Coastal erosion has returned in force to the Paphos region this year, with Polis Chrysochous the latest area to show renewed damage after a winter of severe weather, adding to problems already recorded in Pegeia earlier in the season.
The problem is long-standing in the area. Previous studies found that erosion along the coastline of Polis Municipality and the communities of Chrysochous Bay has in some cases historically exceeded 70 metres.
This winter’s intense storms have worsened the situation, and authorities have already carried out a fresh assessment of the Chrysochous coastline towards Argaka to determine next steps.
Geroskipou, Pegeia and Polis Chrysochous have all been dealing with coastal erosion for decades. This year, however, the problem has returned with a visibility and scale not seen for some years.
Heavy rainfall this winter was extreme in places, causing damage across the region, while coastal protection programmes using breakwaters remain incomplete in several areas.
A decade ago, Polis Municipality began implementing a study by the National Technical University of Athens that called for armourstone protection along part of the beach and the construction of 14 submerged breakwaters between the Municipal Beach and the camping site, with priority given to building four of them directly in front of the Municipal Beach.
The first phase of the project was funded equally by Polis Municipality and the state, at a total cost of 3.5 million euros.