Distressing footage from the Lefka dam has revealed dozens of dead fish in the shrinking reservoir- another stark reminder of the worsening drought crisis in Cyprus.
The video, captured by photographer Giorgos Papapetrou, shows the dam almost completely drained, with water levels so low that many fish have died.
Papapetrou told SigmaLive that only a shallow pool of water remains, far too little to sustain life. “When we had water, it wasn’t managed properly,” he said. “You manage something when you have it, not after you lose it.”
The Lefka dam, built on the Setrachos River at an altitude of 250 metres, lies around five kilometres south of Lefka village and east of the Lefka–Kalopanagiotis road. It is filled either by rainfall or through flow from the Kalopanagiotis dam, but the water is used exclusively by the occupied areas for irrigation.
Environmental observers warn that while the fish in Lefka cannot be saved, early action could protect aquatic life in other reservoirs across the island. Timely monitoring of oxygen and water levels, relocation efforts, and proper management could prevent similar losses elsewhere.
The tragedy at Lefka, they stress, should serve as a call to action, not just another image of what has already been lost.
Also read: Officials warn Cyprus may face fourth year of drought
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