The Minister of Defence, Vasilis Palmas, issued a public apology to residents of the communities affected by the fire at the Kalo Chorio firing range in Larnaca district. At the same time, authorities are moving ahead with measures aimed at strengthening safety in the area and compensating those affected.
The apology was echoed by the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Emmanouil Theodorou, in an effort to restore the confidence of local communities following the blaze of 27 July, which threatened areas surrounding the firing range.
Lieutenant General Theodorou confirmed that the fire broke out during an exercise conducted with an allied country.
"It was a scheduled training exercise, as was already known to all the communities, involving professionals engaged in explosive ordnance disposal, carried out in cooperation with an allied country and planned long in advance," the National Guard chief said.
Repeatedly apologising to residents of the areas placed at risk by the fire, Lieutenant General Theodorou referred to measures discussed with local authorities to prevent a similar incident from occurring again.
As part of those measures, he said, the National Guard agreed to provide communities with detailed information about every activity taking place at the firing range.
He also stated that the National Guard would review its standing orders and the limits within which certain types of firing exercises are permitted in specific areas.
Safety measures
Following a meeting with representatives of local authorities, Mr Palmas described the discussions as "constructive, sincere and civilised" and thanked communities for the seriousness and maturity with which, he said, they had handled the situation.
A key focus of the meeting was the need for immediate measures to enhance the safety of residents living near the firing range. According to the minister, an agreed roadmap will include specific actions and initiatives aimed at addressing the problems that have been identified.
A compensation process for damage caused by the fire was also agreed.
Damage to homes and plantations will be recorded by the District Officer of Larnaca in order to assess the actual cost and facilitate the payment of compensation. According to the minister, payments will be made in cooperation with local authorities and National Guard officials.
Calls for relocation of the firing range
The longstanding request by local communities for the relocation of the firing range was also discussed.
Stavroula Vasileiou, president of the community cluster, described the issue as a difficult one but said a start must be made in that direction.
At the same time, local authorities called for stricter protocols and procedures governing National Guard activities at the range.
Mr Palmas also announced that broader compensatory measures for the area would be examined, while a new meeting has been scheduled for mid-September.
The aim will be to assess progress in implementing the agreed decisions and identify any shortcomings.
Investigation under way
Meanwhile, authorities are awaiting the findings of an investigation into the causes and circumstances of the fire.
The investigator appointed to examine the incident has already begun work and, according to Mr Palmas, the report is expected around the middle of next week.
Once the findings are submitted, further details are expected to be provided regarding what occurred during the exercise.
