Work ongoing to record storm damage in Paphos and Limassol
Paphos general hospital is operating as usual on Monday following damages caused by leaking roofs and flooding of the thalassemia ward and the cardiology lab over the weekend.
Health Minister Michalis Damianos assured the public that no patients were affected.
District administration (EOA) crews were on the go in both Limassol and Paphos as soon as conditions permitted on Sunday, recording damages from Saturday’s storm and clearing debris off the roads.
The two districts had been the hardest hit with scenes of flooded roads in the Paphos tourist area of Geroskipou making the rounds, and large objects such as makeshift awnings getting detached and flying about in Limassol, which was affected mainly by extreme winds.
Damianos, who visited the Paphos hospital on Sunday said that operation had been promptly restored and that the thalassemia ward would operate on Monday as planned, while the rest of the hospital was operating without any problems.
Paphos Mayor Phedonas Phedonos, however, said the Paphos hospital building was a “shambles” and routinely leaks during heavy rains. He also said repairs were long overdue to the structure which had been built 30 years ago.
Elsewhere, the interior ministry said that cabinet would look into whether financial assistance to those affected by the storms was necessary.
It said crews had been recording problems in residences and businesses since Saturday while civil defence had been assisting the fire service in pumping out water from flooded buildings, cutting back smashed trees, and restoring the road network.
According to the ministry, its services were standing by “to offer every possible assistance requested.”
Authorities in Limassol said Saturday’s storms mostly affected farms and the road network, and there had been no flooding in the city centre as in the past, due to the completion of the flood prevention project, the Cyprus News Agency reported.
Crews in Limassol are mainly working to remove trees, fallen utility poles, rocks and other items from roads.