An overturned lorry on the Nicosia-Limassol motorway left thousands of motorists stranded for hours on Thursday, sparking widespread criticism on social media and renewed questions about the state's ability to respond to major traffic disruptions.
The accident, which occurred shortly before 4.30pm near the Dali industrial area, caused the closure of the motorway and led to queues stretching for kilometres.
The lorry overturned and spilled a large quantity of gravel across the road, severely affecting traffic in both directions.
Traffic heading towards Nicosia was restored at around 8.50pm, but the carriageway towards Limassol remained closed until late in the evening as crews worked to remove the vehicle and clear the debris.
Drivers trapped for hours
Many motorists reported spending close to seven hours in stationary traffic, while congestion also spread to service roads and the old Nicosia-Larnaca and Nicosia-Limassol roads.
Posts on social media described frustration over the lack of information and uncertainty about when journeys would resume.
Families with young children, elderly passengers and people with health issues were among those caught in the lengthy delays, with some left without easy access to water, food or toilet facilities.
Criticism of authorities
Much of the public criticism was directed at both the state and the police, with motorists questioning the speed of the response and the absence of effective alternative traffic routes.
Many asked how a single road incident could paralyse one of Cyprus' main transport corridors for several hours without a mechanism for rapidly diverting traffic.
The incident is the latest in a series of major disruptions on the Nicosia-Limassol motorway caused by collisions, overturned heavy vehicles and other emergencies.
Questions over emergency planning
Although police officers and road crews were deployed to the scene, the scale of the disruption has renewed debate about whether existing emergency response plans are adequate for major incidents on Cyprus' busiest motorway.
The lengthy delays have also reignited concerns about the resilience of the country's road network and its capacity to cope when a major traffic artery is blocked.
