Immediate action is being taken on 15–20 high-risk buildings in Larnaca, local authorities said on Wednesday as they increase efforts to address unsafe properties that threaten public safety.

A six-member team of engineers, technicians and municipal officers has already begun on-site inspections of the most dangerous buildings in the city.

The move comes as part of a nationwide effort to list all dangerous buildings following the death of two people after an apartment block partially collapsed in Yermasoyia over Easter weekend.

The team is tasked with assessing structural stability, checking sanitary conditions and taking immediate steps where there is a risk of collapse or other danger.

The Larnaca district government organisation (EOA) said these properties are being treated as a priority, with direct intervention aimed at removing risks as quickly as possible.

Alongside the urgent cases, the organisation is launching a wider inspection programme covering 114 buildings submitted for assessment since its establishment.

These are in addition to more than 563 properties previously identified by earlier authorities as potentially dangerous.

Each building will be re-examined and evaluated on site by specialised civil engineers, who will record conditions and classify risk levels.

The EOA said a preliminary prioritisation process will ensure the most serious cases are dealt with first.

To support the expanded workload, an organisational structure has been set up for a dedicated dangerous buildings department.

The department will include eight staff members, with full staffing to be completed either through permanent recruitment or fixed-term contracts with qualified private sector professionals.

A call for tenders has also been issued for technical assessment work, while legal advisors are reviewing the legislative framework.

The EOA is also moving to recruit an administrative officer with legal training to strengthen its legal support capacity.

The authority said the measures form part of a coordinated effort with Larnaca municipality to improve monitoring and enforcement.

It stressed that the priority is prevention and rapid response, adding that it remains committed to addressing dangerous buildings systematically and protecting residents from potential hazards.