Larnaca has 1,050 dangerous buildings with 300 families living in collapse-risk blocks

Local housingLarnacapropertiesTop News Larnaca has 1,050 dangerous buildings with 300 families living in collapse-risk blocks Larnaca Has 1,050 Dangerous Buildings With 300 Families Living In Collapse Risk Blocks Relevant News Larnaca has 1,050 dangerous buildings with 300 families living in collapse-risk blocks 20 June 2026 Bedroom fire in Lakatamia caused by iron left on, initial reports suggest 20 June 2026 Pension reform bill headed to Cabinet in early July as key week of talks begins 20 June 2026 Natasa Christoforou 20 June 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Alarming findings from a completed mapping exercise have revealed 1,050 dangerous buildings across the Larnaca district, with 300 families living in apartment blocks at risk of collapse, the Larnaca District Local Government Organisation said. The total is nearly double the 563 buildings handed over by local authorities to the DLGO on April 1, 2025. Of the 1,050, 471 are in Larnaca municipality, 117 in Lefkara, 65 in Dromolaxia-Meneou, 39 Aradippou, 12 in Athienou and 346 in community clusters. Most are unoccupied and will be sealed, with owners to be notified to take action. Collapse risk in occupied buildings The findings that put the DLGO on high alert come from the first 180 visual inspections carried out by private engineers, with a further 110 cases recently assigned. Of those 180, 94 buildings were placed in Category C — at risk of collapse without immediate action. A further 36 were placed in Category B due to extensive damage, 30 in Category A for minor damage, and only 20 showed no issues having been recently renovated. The most serious concern is that 31 of the Category C buildings are occupied: 27 are apartment blocks — 26 in Larnaca city and one in Pyla — and four are ground-floor homes, three in Larnaca and one in Tersefanou. Across those 27 blocks, 300 apartments are occupied. Most are in Larnaca city centre and the Sotiros and Chrysopolitissa areas. Among them is the Filanda apartment block near the port, which came to public attention recently after three migrants fell from balconies to avoid arrest during a migration operation, one of them fatally. The block has 79 apartments and 10 shops. A second dangerous block in Larnaca city centre has 64 apartments and 12 shops. DLGO president Angelos Hadjicharalambous said the organisation would complete action on all 31 occupied Category C buildings within 15 days. The 63 unoccupied Category C buildings will be sealed, and signage will be placed on the remaining buildings across the district. Hadjicharalambous called on property owners to take responsibility. “When you own a property, it carries a great responsibility,” he said. “Owners must maintain their buildings. Otherwise they risk administrative fines, which we intend to impose.” He noted that since the issue became public, many owners had been contacting the DLGO to say they would take action, out of concern their properties could be taken over by the organisation. Action taken since late May Since late May the DLGO has evacuated the Madona Court apartment block in Faneromeni, closed Club D’Lux in the port area, and issued a warning for Adelphi Court in Chrysopolitissa to address dangerous conditions. It has also fenced off a number of dangerous unoccupied buildings across the city and district, and initiated demolition proceedings for two buildings in Larnaca and Tersefanou. Two further demolitions in Larnaca are expected in the coming days. Hadjicharalambous said the Madona Court evacuation was carried out without problems, with support from municipal social workers. The Interior Ministry provided 30 hotel rooms through Civil Defence for a short period. However, the Sub-Ministry of Welfare told the DLGO at a meeting that it had no intention of intervening. “When the Sub-Ministry of Social Welfare says it’s not their job, then whose job is it?” Hadjicharalambous said. He warned that further evacuations could create a serious social problem given high rents and low housing availability in Larnaca. Legislation and resources Existing legislation is hampering the DLGO’s ability to act swiftly, Hadjicharalambous said. A court order is required before administrative fines can be imposed, and courts in other towns have refused to approve evacuation orders even for buildings deemed dangerous. “While the buildings are dangerous, residents remain inside and the law says we as organisations bear responsibility,” he said. A bill addressing the issue is being prepared for the Interior Committee. Resources are also under strain. The mapping exercise absorbed almost all staff in the DLGO’s Licensing Service for one and a half months, during which the board decided to suspend the issuing of permits. Permits have since resumed. Visual inspections alone may cost around €300,000, Hadjicharalambous said. The Interior Ministry is to allocate €2 million for the purpose, but he said that amount would not be sufficient. 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