Polis Chrysochous municipality remains on alert after prolonged rainfall on Sunday caused flooded basements and premises, road closures and fallen trees across the town.
Rainfall continued throughout the night across the Paphos district and persists on Monday, though falling in a milder form than Sunday’s intense phenomena, creating satisfaction for dam enrichment and crop irrigation whilst avoiding further damage.
The Latsi-Polis Chrysochous road closed on Sunday due to water accumulation but reopened hours later, according to authorities. Water also accumulated on Mariou-Arsinois Avenue in Polis Chrysochous early Sunday afternoon.
Mayor Yiotis Papachristofi said he visited flooded areas from the first moment, noting that “thanks to collective effort, most problems have already been addressed to a large degree”.
Municipal crews continued restoration work on Monday with the goal of full restoration of normality and protection of residents and their properties, he said.
The municipality will remain on alert in close cooperation with all relevant services for any further needs that may arise, Papachristofi said. Private individuals contributed excavators and other equipment to help address the problems immediately, he added.
Papachristofi thanked involved services, Police and the Fire Service for their cooperation, immediate mobilisation and coordination, as well as municipal crews and workforce who worked non-stop under difficult conditions.
The Fire Service conducted a partial staff recall on Sunday. Weather phenomena were more intense in Paphos district than anywhere else, with the service receiving 28 calls in Paphos, 25 concerning Chrysochous district and specifically the communities of Polis, Latsi, Prodromi, Argaka and Drousia, according to the Fire Service.
Crews from Paphos district Fire Stations are working with Polis Chrysochous Municipality to restore normality, with staff recall needed to handle all calls, the Fire Service said. The road from Polis Chrysochous to Latsi has reopened, Police said.
Water Development Department officials told Phileleftheros that recent rainfall, especially continuing until Friday according to the Meteorological Service, will prove very beneficial for strengthening dam inflow.
The torrential rains of the last 48 hours contributed to saturating the earth, they said, meaning rainfall henceforth will flow into reservoirs given it falls in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas.
Crews from relevant authorities and organisations have been working since morning to resolve problems accumulated from Sunday’s extreme rainfall in some cases.
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