Larnaca CID has launched an investigation following the death of a 78-year-old man and the serious poisoning of four others at a local residence.
Detectives are now testing a specific water source at the property, suspecting it as the primary link to a cluster of severe illnesses.
The incident began on Saturday, 3 January, when the retiree and his wife were rushed to Larnaca Hospital, where he later died. The situation escalated the following day, Sunday 4 January, when relatives gathered at the couple’s home for the traditional “consolation coffee”. Following the gathering, three more attendees fell ill and were admitted to the hospital in serious condition.
Larnaca CID officers are currently focusing their search on a particular water dispenser or tap used by the guests, most of whom are elderly. Police sources indicate that every victim, including those now in the hospital, consumed water from this specific point during their stay.
Investigators are working to determine if the deceased man and his wife had also drunk from the same source before their initial collapse on Saturday. Forensic teams have secured water samples for urgent laboratory testing as they attempt to identify the toxic substance involved.
The residence remains a crime scene while health inspectors and police conduct thorough checks of the plumbing and any stored water containers.