Students injured and left in shock
The Palaichori bus crash has sparked anger from the village’s community leader, who described the condition of students following the accident and criticised long-standing problems facing mountain communities.
Speaking on the programme “Protoselido”, Palaichori community leader Tasos Michaelides said several children were injured and in shock after the collision involving a bus transporting students.
“Children were on the road injured and in a state of shock,” he said, stressing that the seriousness of the incident should not be downplayed.
According to Michaelides, five of the students remained in hospital for treatment.
Minor movement prevented worse impact
Michaelides explained that a last-second movement of the bus may have prevented a far more serious crash.
He said the bus shifted slightly to the right at the moment of the collision, causing the other vehicle to strike the front left side instead of hitting the bus head-on.
“As a result it turned slightly to the side and did not take the full force of the collision. Perhaps this coincidence prevented far worse outcomes,” he noted.
The bus, which transports students daily from Palaichori to the Nicosia Regional Gymnasium, is a brand-new 2025 model equipped with seat belts on all seats, which he said helped limit injuries.
Michaelides suggested the accident may have been caused by the driver of the other vehicle losing consciousness while driving, possibly while travelling to a dialysis appointment, though the circumstances will be investigated.
Anger over ambulance delay
The community leader expressed strong frustration over what he described as a delayed ambulance response, saying it took around 40 minutes to reach the scene.
He argued that the delay was linked to the location of the Nicosia General Hospital and ambulance services.
According to Michaelides, if the ambulance station in Kliros — about ten minutes from the crash site — had been operating normally, emergency responders could have arrived much sooner.
He added that ambulances assigned to the area are often relocated elsewhere, leaving mountain communities without immediate coverage.
Criticism over neglect of mountain communities
Michaelides broadened his criticism to what he described as long-standing neglect of mountain communities by the state.
He said Palaichori is the largest village in the region and serves as a hub for several surrounding communities, yet key public services remain understaffed.
As an example, he said the local medical centre should have two doctors but operates with only one, who has covered most of the area’s needs for about 15 years.
Nursing staff are also limited, with only two nurses working instead of the four positions that should be filled.
He also criticised the operation of the local police station, saying it mainly functions as a holding facility for temporary detainees rather than as a fully operational station able to respond quickly to incidents across nearby communities.
Concerns over education and development
Michaelides also pointed to problems in education, saying the Palaichori kindergarten has needed a second teacher for two years.
Despite recommendations — including from the President of the Republic — the appointment has not been made, forcing authorities to choose which children can be accepted, leaving working parents without childcare options.
He further criticised slow building permit procedures, which he said undermine government schemes designed to encourage young couples to settle in mountain areas.
According to Michaelides, while permits are issued relatively quickly in other areas, the process in mountain communities can take years, causing applicants to lose eligibility for financial support.
Call to keep issue in public spotlight
Michaelides described the situation not simply as negligence but as a “crime”, accusing the state of prioritising other interests over the needs of mountain communities.
He called on the media and social media users to keep the issue in the public spotlight.
“If there is pressure, they will move. If there isn’t, they will continue to ignore us,” he said.
Also read: Driver charged over Aglantzia fatal crash
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