Cyprus Identifies Areas Most Vulnerable to Flooding

In the wake of deadly rains and floods in Spain, as well as adverse weather conditions that struck the island last weekend, Cypriot authorities are increasingly concerned about the island's preparedness for such natural disasters. Meteorologists warn that Cyprus appears unprotected against the potential fury of extreme weather.

Last Saturday, heavy rainfall engulfed Cyprus, resulting in nearly 50% of the monthly average precipitation falling within just a few hours. The provinces of Limassol and Paphos were the hardest hit.

Experts attribute the worsening situation to the aging dam systems in these provinces, most of which were constructed decades ago and cannot withstand the heavy downpours.

Meteorologists have identified thirty-eight areas marked in red on the flood risk map of Cyprus, indicating high vulnerability to extreme weather events. Among these, ten areas are located in Larnaca, six in Limassol, three in Paphos, and one in Famagusta, with the capital, Nicosia, leading with eighteen high-risk points. All the unsafe zones are situated along eight rivers, and the Department of Water Resources estimates that the likelihood of flooding is about once every 20 years.

Additionally, experts point out that the lack of infrastructure is just one aspect of the threat; another significant concern is the failure of relevant authorities to provide timely warnings about severe weather conditions.

Last Saturday, around 5:30 PM, roads began to transform into rivers. Just 1.5 hours earlier, the meteorological department had issued a yellow warning, yet residents and officials were largely unprepared to respond to the situation.

This incident is not the first time that extreme weather events have caught emergency services off guard.

In response to the recent floods in Spain, Cypriot authorities are planning to expedite the implementation of an early warning system for emergencies, integrating it with the 112 service. Cyprus is among the last European nations to adopt such a mechanism.