Cyprus begins assessing storm damage; Cabinet to discuss compensation

Cyprus authorities have begun assessing the damage caused by the storm that hit the island on 29 August, after which the issue of compensation will be brought before the Council of Ministers. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

Damage registration began in the afternoon on Saturday in several communities in Nicosia district and is continuing today. From Monday, district administration teams will travel to Polis Chrysochous and the remaining districts.

Nicosia district was hit hardest: district administration staff have already visited some of the communities. In other districts, the minister said, no serious damage was recorded — except for an incident in Avgorou, where lightning set fire to an auxiliary building and the flames damaged a neighbouring residential property.

“The compensation framework is determined by previous decisions of the Council of Ministers,” Ioannou said. He explained that such decisions have already been adopted for cases of natural disasters: they cover specified amounts for businesses, residential buildings and other properties.

The minister could not say when the assessment would be completed, as this depends on the workload. Once it is finished, the issue will be brought before a meeting of the Council of Ministers, which will determine the payments.

The storm on 29 August brought down trees, caused landslides on roads, and damaged greenhouses and solar panels. Eleven flights were diverted to alternative airports, while the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) received around 25,000 reports of damage to the network within 24 hours.