Cyprus is set to acquire specialised rescue vehicles, coordination vehicles, and expert equipment to enable the immediate mobilisation and more effective intervention required during seismic events.
For this purpose, Cyprus has secured funding of €2.5 million from the cross-border project, “Epicentres,” executed in collaboration with Greece. Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis confirmed that the project is implemented under the Interreg VI-A Greece-Cyprus 2021-2027 Programme, with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and aims at climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention.
Under the project, the Civil Defence Force will procure a dedicated coordination vehicle equipped with modern, specialised systems and applications. This will allow it to function as a mobile command centre with operational support capabilities, even if telecommunications infrastructure has collapsed.
Interior Ministry Director-General Elikkos Elia stated that the project invests in both equipment and training. He explained that three specialised workshops will be conducted focusing on seismic disaster management, using a training methodology that promotes the exchange of experience and expertise between countries.
Staff from the Cyprus and Greek Fire Services will receive initial training before acting as trainers for subsequent programmes in Cyprus and Crete.
Elia underlined the decisive importance of this training for the Civil Defence. It improves coordination, strengthens critical skills such as rubble rescue and first aid, reduces response time, and bolsters the psychological resilience of personnel—all factors that save lives in the critical first hours after a destructive earthquake. He linked the project to the Christodoulides government’s effort to upgrade the civil protection sector. The ultimate goal of transforming the Interior Ministry into the Ministry of Interior and Civil Protection is to centralise state services, ensuring better organisation and optimal use of resources for disaster response.
Necessity in a seismic region
Justice Minister Hartsiotis highlighted the necessity of the project, noting that Cyprus, like the entire Eastern Mediterranean, lies in one of Europe’s most seismically active regions. “Recently, we were shaken by a series of intense earthquakes felt across Cyprus, thankfully without significant damage,” he said. “This makes strengthening prevention, readiness, and effective crisis management absolutely essential.”
Fire Service Chief Nikos Longinos stated that the project reinforces both local operational capacity and joint cross-border readiness. He noted that high seismicity and frequent environmental changes in the region demand increased readiness and continuous adaptation from the emergency mechanisms.
The announcement of the “Epicentres” programme was attended by the Chief of the Greek Fire Service, Theodoros Vagias, and representatives from Crete, Syros, and other locations.
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