State will ‘stand by’ well-known filmmaker who lost archive in fire (updated)

The state will stand by filmmaker Panicos Chrysanthou so his work can be reborn from the ashes, deputy culture minister Yiannis Toumazis said on Tuesday in the aftermath of a large fire that destroyed the former’s home in Pelathousa the previous day.

The blaze, which broke out at around 1:42pm on Monday between Pelathousa and Polis Chrysochous, caused major damage to the house, destroying most of Chrysanthou’s physical archive.

Chrysanthou himself suffered minor burns and was sent to hospital but was discharged soon after, and is now staying with his wife at a friend’s apartment.

An official from the office of the interior ministry, which oversees Turkish Cypriot properties, said that an evaluation will now take place to see if any renovation works are possible.

Meanwhile, Toumazis visited the site after the fire was put out, assuring that the interior ministry and the deputy ministries of social welfare and culture will help Chrysanthou, who he called “an important cultural chapter for our country,” restore as much of his archive as possible, and replace his lost equipment.

“As the deputy culture ministry, knowing Panicos’ efforts to support Cypriot culture through his important creations, we will take care of everything we can to stand by him,” Toumazis said, adding that the Cypriot film library, located close by, was fortunately saved.

“We will do all we can to help one of our most important creators come back to work stronger. We need Panicos Chrysanthou, he has a lot to give”.

Speaking to reporters, Chrysanthou himself said that some of his archive was saved as he had stored copies elsewhere, while he managed to save his computer, containing his latest work, from the flames.

He also said he managed to save around 15 files from his photographic archive.

However, he said he lost his entire audio archive, which contained around 300 cassette tapes containing recordings he collected over the years, for which there are no copies, as well as 500 DVDs with footage he had filmed.

“I am calm,” he said. “Sad, yes, but calm, and will continue working to save whatever can be saved. In cases like this, you can either fall into a pit of despair, or continue,” he said, stressing that he was being realistic about the new reality he was facing.

On Tuesday, fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis said the fire’s focal point was an illegal fly-tip in the area.

Kettis told the Cyprus News Agency that the causes of the fire are still being investigated in collaboration with the police, and called for anyone with information to come forward.

The spokesman said that ground crews worked throughout the night, with four aircraft – two planes and two helicopters – joining them early in the morning to extinguish the last of the flames and demarcate the area that was damaged.

He explained that the fire was brought under control by around 7.30 on Monday evening after burning 1.5 square kilometres of dry leaves, reeds, dry vegetation and trees.

Strong winds in the area also caused extensive damage to a private residence, but firefighting crews managed to keep the blaze from spreading further, protecting businesses, farms and homes in the community, he said.

The fire service responded to the fire with 12 staffed fire engines from Paphos district fire stations, with support from the Limassol district.

Sixteen fire engines and three earth movers from the forestry department, three mobile firefighting units from the game service and two from civil defence, one vehicle from the Paphos district administration, as well as members of the police, reinforced the firefighting work.