Cyprus Meteorological Service explains why no ban on going out to sea was issued before tragedy off Cape Greco

The Cyprus Department of Meteorology said that no procedure exists on the island for banning vessels from going out to sea and that the department does not make such decisions. The clarification came after the tragedy off Cape Greco on 29 August: during a storm, two vessels were thrown onto the rocks, one person died and two women were injured.

Meteorologist Andreas Christou told the Cyprus News Agency (KYPE) that the service’s only document is a marine bulletin, which was issued as usual on Saturday. It stated that wave heights in Cyprus’s eastern marine zone would reach approximately 2.5 metres. An orange warning was also in effect, while thunderstorms with wind gusts of force 8–9 were forecast in coastal areas.

“There is no such thing as a ban on going out to sea,” Christou said. According to him, the bulletin explicitly stated that conditions at sea would be dangerous: in addition to high waves, severe thunderstorms, hail and squally winds were expected. The document covers waters up to eight kilometres from the coast, is distributed to the relevant authorities, port authorities throughout the island, companies and private vessel owners, and is updated approximately every six hours.

Asked whether the weather had proved stronger than forecast, the meteorologist said that the phenomena remained within the parameters of the forecast and orange warning. He recalled that an orange level indicates dangerous phenomena, and that its wording explicitly mentions the possibility of damage and loss of life.

Famagusta police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the accident and are taking statements; a date for the post-mortem examination of the deceased has not yet been set. One of the injured women has already been discharged, while the other remains in Famagusta Hospital with fractured ribs; her condition is not considered life-threatening. Divers from the Department of Fisheries are checking the site of the accident for oil pollution, but none has been detected so far. The wreckage of the vessels remains at the site and is expected to be removed in the coming days.