Strong winds on Sunday caused problems in various areas of Cyprus, mainly in the capital, Nicosia, where trees fell and electricity cables were disrupted, with the Fire Service responding to 129 calls. In some cases drivers who were trapped, had to be rescued from their vehicles.
In a post on X, Fire Service Press Officer Andreas Kettis said on Monday morning that in the last 24 hours the Service responded to 154 incidents, 17 fires and 137 special service calls.
“We responded to 129 of the aforementioned 137 special services in relation to fierce winds, which involved the falling and removal of trees from public or private areas, the displacement of delicate materials (tents, awnings), scaffolding, photovoltaic panels, billboards, the falling of trees on EAC cables, etc.,” Kettis said.
The most serious call, he noted, involved the displacement of EAC electrical cables on three private vehicles and the entrapment of the occupant driver in one vehicle in Agios Dometios, adding that a team with a rescue vehicle from Nicosia stations responded and the driver was stabilised in cooperation with the Ambulance Service and was transferred to the Nicosia General Hospital.
The fourth vehicle affected by falling wires was aided by an EAC crew, the electricity was cut off and the driver of the vehicle was safely removed, he noted.
According to Kettis, crews worked on investigating the incidents until the early hours of the morning, adding that following the 129 calls, 114 required the assistance of Fire Stations in Nicosia, 13 that of Fire Stations in Larnaca and 2 that of Fire Stations in Famagusta.
He also said that personnel from Nicosia Fire Stations were recalled to duty, with the Fire Service working with 13 crews, reinforced by the Civil Defence and the organised volunteer groups Support Cy, SOS and the Cyprus Rescue Team.
In addition, during the night the Cyprus Police conducted patrols to provide assistance wherever and whenever needed due to the strong winds.
According to the Police, winds caused trees to fall on roads in the districts of Nicosia, Famagusta and Larnaca, adding that in two cases in Nicosia, two drivers were trapped in their cars and were extricated with the help of the Fire Service and in one case with the contribution of an EAC crew, as cables were also affected.
Also read: Fire Service responds to 16 incidents due to heavy rain and winds
Source: CNA/MCH/KA/AGK
