Nicosia flooding exposes gaps in stormwater network, officials say

Local NicosiaTop NewsWeather Nicosia flooding exposes gaps in stormwater network, officials say Nicosia Flooding Exposes Gaps In Stormwater Network, Officials Say Relevant News Storm damage: 183 homes affected, here’s what residents should do 31 August 2026 Nicosia flooding exposes gaps in stormwater network, officials say 31 August 2026 Kyrenia “mayor” slams ticket price hikes after deadly shipwreck 31 August 2026 Newsroom 31 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The Nicosia District Local Government Organisation (DLGO) faced its most serious problems in the Engomi, Archangelos and Pediaios areas following severe weather on Saturday, DLGO President Constantinos Yiorkadjis said, attributing much of the damage to structural gaps and missing infrastructure that the organisation is now studying. In Engomi specifically, Yiorkadjis said the DLGO was examining why the area lacks a complete stormwater pipe network, why 28th October Street floods despite being a modern road, and why two planned retention lakes remain unfinished. He said solutions to such large-scale problems would not be immediate, since they require building significant new infrastructure. Yiorkadjis pointed to the district’s fragmented governance as the root of the problem: before Nicosia’s local government reform, ten separate municipalities each managed their own stormwater network, leaving no unified system and resulting in inconsistent maintenance. “There were ten municipalities and ten disconnected stormwater pipe networks,” he said, adding that unifying and completing that network will take time. He said the DLGO inherited the network at its founding, and that since the necessary works had not been carried out for decades, some serious problems cannot be resolved within a year and a half. He expressed hope, however, that the organisation would be better prepared for the next storm, distinguishing smaller problems that could be addressed through investigation from larger projects requiring investment in the millions. On preparation, Yiorkadjis said the DLGO has a dedicated unit that cleans and maintains stormwater pipes daily, not only ahead of storms, adding that last year crews cleared some points for the first time in years, in some cases decades, based on the vegetation growth found there. When the Department of Meteorology issues a yellow warning, he said, the DLGO coordinates with the district’s five municipalities to inspect known problem points, and crews were stationed at those points clearing drainage grates as the storm began. He said the grates had been clear before the rain started, but strong winds blew leaves, branches and litter over them, requiring crews to clear the debris again once rain began so water could drain. On planned works, Yiorkadjis said construction is due to begin imminently on an enclosed pipe for the Vasilopotamos (Kotsirka) river beneath Digeni Akrita Avenue, a project worth over €2 million. In the area between Lakatamia and Strovolos, near the APOEL stadium, which he described as facing major problems, the DLGO is proceeding immediately with a study for new stormwater pipes, with construction expected to begin in early 2027. He said a new charge of 0.05 per thousand on stormwater infrastructure raises around €2 million a year, with the goal of funding one roughly €2 million project annually to gradually address longstanding gaps. Nicosia mayor: flooding needs long-term fixes, not quick remedies Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos said flooding caused by rainfall cannot be addressed with quick fixes, calling for supra-local flood defence works and better coordination between agencies. “This is an issue that can’t be resolved with painkillers, and its resolution is urgent, through supra-local flood defence works undertaken by the state,” he said, citing planned retention lakes in the Klimos river area and targeted works at specific points where slopes channel rainwater into low-lying areas. He said a municipal crew responded on the same day to a fallen tree on Chilonos Street, near the Ministry of Health, noting that after heavy rain trees become uprooted and fall with the first gust of wind. Municipal crews began operating as the storm hit, focusing on areas with heightened flood risk due to weaknesses in the stormwater system, including Engomi. Detailing the damage, Prountzos said fallen trees caused cable damage and power cuts at at least six locations, with some outages taking around 36 hours to repair. He said five properties flooded and around 21 trees fell across the municipality. He called for updated emergency management plans and stronger coordination between services, saying flooding events are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Responding to a question, he said cooperation on flooding is required at minimum between the DLGO, the Water Development Department, which is responsible for rivers, the Fire Service and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, adding that crisis management protocols need updating and that inter-agency coordination should be formalised rather than dependent on personal relationships between staff. He said he believed the municipality had responded adequately overall, citing seven crews deployed, recalled staff leave for cleanup work, and his own presence at the scene from 10am to 11pm on Saturday, while adding that municipalities should always aim to do better. Strovolos mayor: preventive steps to continue until bridge project completed Strovolos Mayor Stavros Stavrinides said the municipality responded with 13 crews to resident calls related to the storm, mainly involving fallen trees and, in one case, dislodged solar panels. “Two photovoltaic panels were found on Andi Hatzikosti Street, detached from a building and posing a danger, especially as they were in the road. Following a resident’s timely report, we went to the site and removed them,” he said. On the recurring overflow of the Pediaios river on Alexandroupoleos Avenue, Stavrinides said the problem occurs annually, as it does at the Prodromou bridge near the Red Cross area. He said that bridge falls under a wider urban planning project to improve Alexandroupoleos, Strovolou and Archangelou avenues, with design and construction plans already completed and only a viability study still pending. He said the municipality has requested the project be prioritised and that a new bridge will be built alongside the existing one. Asked how similar flooding could be prevented before the next storm, Stavrinides said the municipality would continue taking preventive measures until the project is completed, including closing roads, and clearing the riverbed, adding that no further intervention is possible given the project’s urban planning status. He said the municipality is drafting a new action plan for fires, floods, earthquakes and snowfall, drawing on expertise from a municipality in another country, updating an existing plan that dates to 2011. He said responsibility for stormwater management rests with the DLGO, with the municipality contributing through surface-level cleaning of drainage grates and post-storm restoration work. Read more: Severe Saturday storms echo rare 1971 disturbance, Kitasweather says Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Storm damage: 183 homes affected, here’s what residents should do Kyrenia “mayor” slams ticket price hikes after deadly shipwreck Search for 20 missing continues as Kyrenia victims’ names released Cyprus pledges €200,000 in aid to flood-hit Nepal Iceland says no as the EU’s appeal comes under pressure Cape Greco tragedy: Mavropoulos’s daughter discharged from hospital as autopsy confirms cause of death “Don’t let go of me”: mother’s account of daughter slipping away as ship sank Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.