Man suffers burns after lightning strike in Kato Drys village

A 45-year-old Sri Lankan national was admitted to the Emergency Department of Larnaca Hospital after lightning struck near him in the village of Kato Drys. The incident occurred at around 12:55 on Saturday, 29 August, near the Timios Prodromos chapel.

As Larnaca Police Assistant Chief Giorgos Foukkaris told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the man was not alone at the chapel. Two of his companions left first and got into the car, while he followed behind. Lightning struck the ground next to him just as he was about to get into the vehicle. The man suffered minor burns to his shoulder.

Charalambos Charilaou, spokesperson for the Cyprus State Health Services Organisation (OKYPY), said that doctors were examining the injured man and carrying out tests. According to the medical assessment, his condition was good. He also denied reports that water had flooded Larnaca Hospital and trapped people inside, saying there had been no leaks in the roof.

Due to the bad weather, police set up crisis-management command centres in each district. In Larnaca district, according to Foukkaris, the situation was returning to normal: there were no serious incidents, although fallen trees and power lines were reported, while strong winds shifted rubbish bins and road signs.

The storm hit the island in the middle of the day. The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) recorded around 40 faults on medium-voltage lines, lightning caused a forest fire in Limassol district, the Pedieos River burst its banks in Strovolos, and a boat sank off Cape Greco. The Meteorological Service had issued an orange thunderstorm warning for the day.