Following the deaths of two young Somali women in the coastal area of Oroklini, attention has once again turned to whether the tragedy could have been prevented, with the widespread use of breakwaters and the lack of lifeguard coverage emerging as key concerns.
The drowning deaths on Thursday evening have reignited debate over two critical issues affecting beach safety in Cyprus: the adequacy of lifeguard services and the dangers posed by breakwaters in locations where they may not be necessary.
According to the President of the Cyprus Lifesaving Federation, Polis Pallikaros, the two women appear to have been swept towards a breakwater area at a time when no lifeguard was on duty. Speaking to Politis, he pointed out that beach operating hours remain limited and that, under current conditions, it is not feasible to staff all lifeguard towers from sunrise to sunset.
Breakwaters described as death traps
The physical structure of the beach itself has also come under scrutiny. Dr Xenia Loizidou, a civil engineer and coastal engineering specialist, described breakwaters as potential death traps, highlighting both their dangers and what she sees as their excessive use around Cyprus.
She explained that diffraction effects and currents develop around the edges of breakwaters, eroding and deepening the seabed.
According to Dr Loizidou, while shallow areas may form directly in front of breakwaters — which is often their intended purpose — the seabed between them can suddenly become much deeper. This can create a false sense of security for swimmers or bathers walking in shallow water before unexpectedly losing contact with the seabed.
“Even experienced swimmers can be caught off guard when the ground suddenly disappears beneath their feet,” she said.
Dr Loizidou also warned about reverse seabed currents, explaining that while the sea surface may appear calm, powerful underwater currents can pull swimmers away from shore. In such conditions, clothing or additional weight can make escape even more difficult.
She stressed that the phenomenon is not a “whirlpool” as it is often described, but rather a turbulent flow created when waves and seabed currents encounter obstacles and are forced back with significant force.
She further cautioned that swimmers should exercise extreme care when waves are present near breakwaters, even if the water within the enclosed area appears calm. Such calm conditions, she said, can be deceptive and may conceal dangerous water movements.
Dr Loizidou was also highly critical of the extensive use of breakwaters across Cyprus, arguing that the island has “far too many” and that local authorities frequently request additional projects to create calm, sandy beaches.
Restrictions on rescue watercraft
The presence of a lifeguard tower alone is not always sufficient in emergencies involving currents around breakwaters.
Pallikaros noted that rescue operations in such situations often require watercraft or motorised rescue equipment, such as jet skis, to ensure rapid intervention and a wider response range.
However, he pointed out that current legislation prohibits vessels from crossing the buoy line on the shore side, a restriction that also applies to lifeguard jet skis.
He has called for rescue craft to be exempt from the ban, arguing that they can prove vital in saving swimmers in distress. According to Pallikaros, repeated requests and formal letters seeking legislative amendments have so far gone unanswered.
Lifeguard shortages remain a major concern
Another significant beach safety issue concerns both the operating hours of lifeguard services and the limited periods during which lifeguards are employed.
Pallikaros argued that beaches considered high-risk should receive coverage for longer periods and that the public should be clearly informed about which beaches are supervised, during what hours and with what resources.
“People need to know which beaches are protected, during which hours and with what equipment,” he said, stressing that such information should be easily accessible.
Lifeguards also point to ongoing recruitment difficulties. Each year, authorities face challenges filling seasonal positions, as much of the system relies on temporary staff, many of whom are students.
According to figures provided by the Beach Safety Unit of the Ministry of Interior to the Cyprus News Agency, approximately 380 lifeguard positions are funded through ministry and local authority resources, while only 107 are permanent posts.
Pallikaros believes the solution lies in increasing the number of permanent positions or introducing longer-term contracts lasting six to eight months. The Federation has also strongly opposed proposals to operate lifeguard towers with only one lifeguard instead of two, arguing that such a move would fall below accepted safety standards and reduce the ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
Source: Andreas Potamitis- Politis
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