Cyprus is today marking the 15th anniversary of the deadly explosion at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base in Mari, where 13 people lost their lives while on duty.
On 11 July 2011, three explosions the most powerful occurring at around 5:30am ripped through shipping containers storing munitions at the naval base. The blasts killed 13 members of the National Guard, the Fire Service and the Emergency Response Unit (EMAK), while dozens of others were injured.
The naval base was devastated, and the powerful blast wave caused extensive damage to the nearby Vasilikos power station, resulting in severe economic consequences for Cyprus.
Those who lost their lives were Captain Andreas Ioannides, Commander Lambros Lambrou, Chief Petty Officer Cleanthis Cleanthous, Contract Petty Officer Michalis Heracleous, sailors Miltos Christoforou, Christakis Christoforou and Andreas Charalambous, Fire Service Sergeant Andreas Papadopoulos, Chief Firefighter Giorgos Giakoumis, and firefighters Vasilis Krokos, Spyros Ttantis, Panayiotis Theophilou and Adamos Adamou.
The Council of Ministers officially declared the 13 men heroes in recognition of the sacrifice they made in the line of duty.
A church dedicated to the New Martyrs of Cyprus has since been built within the naval base in memory of the 13 victims.
Photographs from the annual memorial service at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base were released as the country paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
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