Squatters have illegally seized part of a Larnaca beach next to the Larnaca Nautical Club, blocking local residents from accessing the sea and turning a public coast into a makeshift private resort.
The site features wooden shacks with verandas, traditional Cypriot barbecues (foukou), awnings, and caravans equipped with satellite dishes and makeshift toilets. Local residents have filed numerous complaints regarding noise, litter, and poor sanitary conditions.
The illegal camp sits directly in front of the area designated for the upcoming Land of Tomorrow development project, dealing a blow to the city’s tourism image. Although a similar municipal clearance operation took place at the exact same location two years ago in 2024, no authority has intervened this time due to a bureaucratic dispute over the status of the land, which is privately owned by 12 individuals.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras said residents want to swim but the squatters have cordoned off the area and refuse to let anyone pass in front of the caravans.
Mayor Vyras stated that the municipality requested the Larnaca District Officer to intervene under beach protection laws, mirroring the 2024 operation. However, District Officer Odysseas Hadjistefanou replied that authorities cannot intervene because the land is privately owned.
According to Hadjistefanou, the issue must either fall to the Larnaca District Local Government Organisation, which would take years to remove the caravans, or follow standard nuisance abatement procedures, requiring up to two years to secure a court order.
Mayor Vyras rejected this position, stating that the municipality holds a clear legal opinion that the District Administration and the Ministry of Interior must designate the area as a public beach regardless of its private ownership status. He added that municipal crews remain ready to help clear the site immediately.
The Director of Local Government at the Ministry of Interior, Antonis Economides, said the law remains clear and that instructions will be sent to the Larnaca District Officer to take appropriate measures. Economides noted that under the Beach Protection Law, the District Officer holds absolute authority over any area within 100 yards (92 metres) of the shoreline and must remove illegal structures, though they cannot intervene further inland on private plots.
The Larnaca District Administration stated that it is investigating the matter deeply. Officials noted that Land Registry plans show the private plot extends directly to the sea and does not touch a designated Beach Protection Zone.
Inspectors will review the site and submit a formal report to the Larnaca District Officer on Monday, 20 July, when he returns from annual leave.