Overnight torrential rain in Limassol caused thousands of euros in damage, as dwellings flooded and motorists were stranded on deluged roads and parking lots along the coast.
The fire service said it had received over 200 calls for assistance, mainly to pump water from flooded homes and basements but also to free stranded drivers.
Dozens of crews worked to restore the damage caused by the floods, which affected almost all areas of Limassol.
No major problems were recorded in the district’s higher regions apart from small landslides that were dealt with immediately.
In the area near the city’s old port, several restaurants suffered a lot of damage from the torrents and the cars swept by the rushing water.
Customers were forced to climb on chairs and tables to escape the rushing water flooding the establishments.
Dozens of cars were also damaged after they got caught up in the deluge. A lot had been parked at lots near the coast which were flooded.
Limassol Mayor Nicos Nicolaides said the situation was difficult but manageable.
“Fortunately, we didn’t have any casualties,” he said. “We, must say that the timely mobilization of the municipal, public works, civil defence, and of course the fire service crews, contributed in avoiding the worst.”
Nicolaides said crews had been scrambled at 1.30am and were still out trying to clear roads from the debris carried by the water.
The mayor rebuffed suggestions that poor infrastructure and lack of readiness were to blame for the damage, saying no city in the world could have been ready for such weather phenomena.
Certain areas of Limassol however, are prone to flooding due to the lack of the necessary infrastructure.
“It would take at least another two years to complete in the northern parts of the city,” he said.
Nicolaides said the budget for the anti-flood projects exceeded €30m and tenders would soon be invited.
“We will need at least two more winters to be able to say the problem is alleviated,” he said. “But I repeat, such intense weather phenomena would create problems in any city in the world because no city can be ready for such phenomena.”
Police chief Markos Trangolas said the services had mounted a huge operation to tackle the problems.
The fire service is co-ordinating the operation, which is assisted by fire crews from Nicosia, Paphos, Larnaca, and the special rescue squad.
“All the services responded in time and we tackled the worst of it,” he said, appealing to the public to be patient since the crews were handling hundreds of calls.
Problems were also reported in Paphos, mostly relating to flooded basements and roads made dangerous from hail.
There was also a brief power cut in Yeroskipou, reports said.
No major problems were reported in Larnaca, Famagusta, and Nicosia, as rain was expected to fall throughout the day across the island.
The Met service said isolated showers could fall on Saturday evening but the weather will gradually improve.
Temperatures were expected to drop to 9C inland and 1C on the mountains. The coasts will see temperatures between 9C and 12C.
The weather will be mainly sunny on Sunday with clouds in some areas during the afternoon. Temperatures will rise markedly.
60 Comments
Bourne
February 18, 2018 at 10:40“No city could have been ready for such a phenomenon” Oh please shut up. Some countries do actually know how to lay down roads with adequate drainage systems.
Adele is back x
February 17, 2018 at 22:28Lovely and sunny in Larnaca 🤥.
GrouseMaster
February 17, 2018 at 21:03“No city in the world could have been ready for such a phenomenon”
Did he really say that? I mean seriously I have no words left for the idiocity of the people in command of this island.
CM reader
February 17, 2018 at 20:12Mr George psylides you will benefit from some additional English lessons!!!!
Douglas
February 17, 2018 at 18:51I feel sorry for all the Insurance Companies having to pay out all the money on their customers policies for water damage 🙂
CM reader
February 17, 2018 at 20:08Don’t it would be reflected in next years higher premiums!!
GSP
February 17, 2018 at 21:39No need for pity. They will wriggle out of paying most claims somehow.
Evergreen
February 17, 2018 at 16:46The Chicago of this Island.
Gold51
February 17, 2018 at 16:59North occupied Nicosia is more like what your insinuating.
Trust you wouldn’t walk there late nights with all those anatolian illegals.
HighTide
February 17, 2018 at 17:51North London, that’s right. Be careful around your home at night.
CM reader
February 17, 2018 at 20:09Which part stoke newington ?
ROC
February 17, 2018 at 17:41I bet some greek bashers get an organismic feeling between the legs when when they greek bash
on something completey irrevent to the article, dont you agree.
Philippos
February 17, 2018 at 14:49Nikolaides you are fooling yourself. There are shortcomings in Lemesos that can be dealt with quickly and easily like end of Autumn Surface Water Drain Cleaning and Clearance. Your Longer Term “Alleviation” is way out of date. Maybe it was consistent with permitted additional development in the Topiko Sxedio, but what is now being constructed is outside the Schedule and permitted only by Ministerial Decree. The intensity of high rise development in Lemesos has never before been experienced in Cyprus. We don’t have the first idea of its likely effects on our ageing and poorly maintained infrastructure, not to mention water supply problems once its stopped raining for seven or eight months, every year.. May i suggest that you wise up and get real before you become associated with putting the “Mess” in Le mess os
Monica
February 17, 2018 at 15:03What about getting a domestic water supply up 30 floors (when the electricity power-cuts happen) ?
Even Archimedes Screw will not help !
And they’ll be praying for a rain-storm, if the upper floors experience an accidental fire !
S4
February 17, 2018 at 15:23What power cuts?
Neroli
February 17, 2018 at 16:35I don’t think you live here at all!!
S4
February 17, 2018 at 16:51Ah but I do, born and raised.
Philippos
February 17, 2018 at 15:25None of this will ever happen, particularly not the rain storm! Don’t you know this is Cyprus? All this modern, state of the art development is going on for us to make a profit. To do this we have to sell it. Please do not write such alarming posts until after the ink is dry on all the contracts. The Buyers will find all the problems soon enough, so relax, enjoy life, you don’t have to tell them now. Anyway they can sell after three years and keep their new passports and move to a proper European Country and be very grateful for our help.
SuzieQ
February 17, 2018 at 15:53😉😉🤗🤗!
Monica
February 17, 2018 at 16:44Oh ! You’re so funny.
I suppose those 200 ‘call-outs’ for the Fire Brigade, over last night, were just trips to a local 24hr. bakery for supplies (But I don’t think it sells ‘flippers, goggles & snorkels’).
Philippos
February 18, 2018 at 08:38Usually its pizzas, or is that the “Home Guard”? HOWEVER, there is a serious side to this. The Pyrovestiki and their colleagues responded brilliantly to this wholly unnecessary situation. Unnecessary because a bit of thought , planning and action over the years and each year would have made a huge difference and avoided the need for “Rescue Services” to become involved, and at risk in something completely avoidable. Mr Nikolaides must have spent most of his life in the most overpopulated parts of Africa or Asia if he thinks that having cars float down a street is “Normal”. Lemesos is overpopulated for its facilities and that is getting worse not better. Deforestation has also allowed water flows to accelerate and overdevelopment with scant planning allowed these flows to join and concentrate. A complete lack ogf joined up and thoughtful government. too much taken out and not enough put in except for ME ME ME
Douglas
February 17, 2018 at 20:02P=Hx.434 🙂
Monica
February 17, 2018 at 20:23Postulate maths ?
Axioms not requiring Q.E.D.
🙂
Douglas
February 17, 2018 at 21:42Trying to confuse me ,but at building 150 get high would only need a pump at ground floor level at 75 PSI to get water to th top apartment but not including frictional loss 🙂
Monica
February 18, 2018 at 01:50Pump …. in a power-cut ? 😉
Douglas
February 18, 2018 at 08:53Diesel pump 🙂
Monica
February 18, 2018 at 11:18OK … but a bit noisy.
Maybe, don’t but an apartment close by it 🙂
Douglas
February 18, 2018 at 14:00Exhaust mufflers make it silent 🙂 next ?
Monica
February 18, 2018 at 14:15What if it’s the cause of a fire ? 😉
Douglas
February 18, 2018 at 14:54Fixed CO2 fire suppression system kicks in and the back up diesel pump continues operations 🙂
Monica
February 18, 2018 at 15:22Sounds like Cyprus needs more then … to use during electrical power cuts. Just a shame that the generators are expensive.
Neroli
February 17, 2018 at 11:10Flooding because the drains are filled with rubbish
disqus_M1c4Dao5WT
February 17, 2018 at 13:42The drains cannot handle such an amount of water, clean or dirty.
Neroli
February 17, 2018 at 13:53Of course they can, the streets are filthy
disqus_M1c4Dao5WT
February 17, 2018 at 15:18Then go get some black bin liners and pick itup.
Neroli
February 17, 2018 at 16:30You’re more suited to that sort of job
S4
February 17, 2018 at 15:24I didn’t realise you were familiar with Limassol Neroli. I always assumed you lived somewhere else.
Neroli
February 17, 2018 at 16:29And where do you think that would be??
S4
February 17, 2018 at 16:32I wouldn’t hazard a guess.
Neroli
February 17, 2018 at 16:34So how do you know I’m not familiar with Limassol? Strange to see you you back on CM after being banned
S4
February 17, 2018 at 16:51It was a hunch more than anything. And good memory, I would have thought I’d be long forgotten now!
Neroli
February 17, 2018 at 21:46Not at all!!
Adele is back x
February 18, 2018 at 17:15Oh please Neroli who is it?
Cydee
February 17, 2018 at 17:26Anyone know what year the present drainage system was built?
disqus_M1c4Dao5WT
February 17, 2018 at 22:09I don’t think it’s the age, it’s the amount of rain that fell in such a short time, not many storm drains can handle that amount of rain.
GSP
February 17, 2018 at 21:43Don’t you mean ‘Flooding because the town planning and civil engineering departments are full of rubbish.’
Neroli
February 17, 2018 at 21:45And those!
Mist
February 17, 2018 at 10:54Suprise Suprise ! A coptic storm that was predicted 1000+ years ago.
lunar
February 17, 2018 at 20:31A haha
alexander reutersward
February 17, 2018 at 10:20Thank God that the new planned construction is 30 floors or more, let’s make sure a shopping centre is constructed on the 15th floor or above. Let’s have bridges between the buildings so we can manage similar floodings in the future
JS Gost
February 17, 2018 at 14:15Venice of the Med…..
Philippos
February 17, 2018 at 14:40“Menace of the VED” (Vertically Excessive Development!)
trashbunny
February 17, 2018 at 09:42Dangerous from hale – what’s that?
disqus_M1c4Dao5WT
February 17, 2018 at 10:38Hail.
Mist
February 17, 2018 at 10:39Someone from Trafford who is fit and healthy?
Colin Evans
February 17, 2018 at 11:55I suspect that not too many will understand your very witty reply.
SuzieQ
February 17, 2018 at 12:42I get it!
Vegchef
February 17, 2018 at 11:17Sometimes hailstones are as big as golf balls. These can seriously damage cars, windows and people if they caught outside.
MountainMan
February 17, 2018 at 14:25Fit old people can be very dangerous.
Philippos
February 17, 2018 at 14:39I think that they meant H-Ale. Its short for Heineken 🙂