Cyprus’s Interior Minister is set to bring a proposal to the next Cabinet meeting that would require new apartment buildings to hand over their basement space as civil defence shelters, as the government moves to expand the island’s shelter network to cover 45% of the population.
The proposal, which has been in preparation for several months, would make basement provision mandatory rather than voluntary for newly built apartment blocks, provided the space exists.
Shelters would be required to have a toilet and drinking water. As an incentive, developers would receive an additional 5% building coefficient, up to a maximum of 50 square metres.
The move comes as around 90 inspectors have spent the past two days assessing the state of existing shelters, following a check carried out last May.
Sources with knowledge of the matter said the May inspection was a sample-only exercise, despite assurances to the contrary, and that the minister has expressed dissatisfaction and is seeking ways to improve the situation.
Requisition of private property was ruled out as a means of expanding shelter capacity, with officials describing it as an excessive measure in peacetime.
Authorities stressed that when an alert is issued, the public should not travel to shelters, as this would cause congestion on the roads. Citizens are being urged to follow the five guidelines announced by the Interior Ministry.
Schools have been briefed and are following their own protocols, as are hospitals.
In addition to SMS alerts — which will eventually be sent via the 112 emergency system once it is implemented — sirens, church bells, and door-to-door notification will continue to be used.
Tourists may experience delays in receiving SMS alerts due to roaming, and will instead be notified through their hotels and accommodation.
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