A post-mortem examination has confirmed that the individual found burned beyond recognition in a Nicosia storage room on Christmas Day died from soot inhalation. This finding suggests the victim was alive when the fire started and inhaled smoke before being overcome by the flames.
The autopsy was conducted today, Sunday, December 28, 2025, by medical examiners Angeliki Papetta and Orthodoxos Orthodoxou.
Key developments in the investigation
The tragedy was discovered shortly after midnight on Christmas Day after the Fire Service extinguished a blaze in a rooftop storage area of an apartment building.
Identification Challenges: Due to the severe state of the remains, identification is only possible through DNA testing.
Locating Next of Kin: Authorities are facing significant difficulties in identifying and locating the victim’s family members to obtain comparative DNA samples.
Forensic Evidence: During the autopsy, blood samples and teeth were collected for laboratory analysis to assist in the identification process and to check for any other underlying factors.
Unanswered Questions: The cause of the fire remains unknown. Joint investigations by the Police, the Fire Service, and the Electromechanical Services are ongoing to determine if the blaze was accidental or the result of a criminal act.