Larnaca steps up demolition of unsafe buildings after series of collapses

The local government organisation of the Larnaca district has accelerated the demolition of unsafe buildings after recent collapses and a fatal incident. Dozens of potentially dangerous structures have been identified in the region, and owners face fines and lawsuits for inaction.

The work began with a house whose part collapsed on 25 May 2026. The building was demolished in just two days — from 28 to 29 May. According to the local government, the three women living there managed to evacuate, and there were no injuries.

Next week, another building in the Sotiros area is scheduled for demolition, where the roof collapsed on 21 May, as well as an adjacent structure that was not listed in municipal documents and had not previously been identified during a visual inspection. After the registry was updated, there are already 25 buildings on the list of dangerous objects.

At the same time, the organisation is working with residents of other unsafe buildings. In the Faneromeni area, a notice requiring the building to be vacated within three days was posted on 20 May. About 40 people have already moved out, but the owners still have not taken measures to seal off the property. The local government said it will carry out these actions itself and is preparing a lawsuit if the owners continue to avoid their responsibilities.

Additional notices have been sent to the owners of a building in the Chrysopolitissa area, where residents are not being evicted yet, but one week has been given to eliminate safety hazards. Another four houses will receive similar orders in the near future.

One of the factors that sped up the measures was a tragic incident: on 27 May, during an Immigration Service inspection, three foreign nationals jumped from the balcony of an unsafe building. One of them, a 34-year-old man from Congo, died.

The local government stresses that responsibility for the condition of property lies with the owners. The organisation is considering administrative fines of up to 20,000 euros and says it is working closely with the police, fire service and municipalities to prevent further risks to public safety.