The issue of dangerous buildings cannot be addressed in a piecemeal manner and requires immediate mobilisation and meaningful cooperation among all relevant authorities, Limassol mayor Yiannis Armeftis, said on Wednesday, following the collapse of an apartment building on Saturday in Germasogeia.
In a statement, Armeftis noted that the municipality had prepared a detailed report by the end of 2024 and informed the Limassol District Local Government Organisation (EOA), which assumed responsibility on 1 April 2025.
130 dangerous buildings
He said that 415 buildings were inspected. Of privately owned structures, 69 were declared dangerous and 43 in need of immediate repair. Among apartment blocks, 27 were deemed dangerous and 53 required urgent repairs, while 34 listed privately owned buildings were also classified as dangerous.
The mayor added that, as the competent authority until 31 March 2025, the municipality had designated around 130 buildings as dangerous. Over the past decade, it has spent approximately €1.6 million addressing the issue.
A municipal study estimated that around €8 million would be required to eliminate the risks associated with these buildings.
Financial support
Armeftis said the EOA had been informed not only about the dangerous structures but also about 415 buildings where illegalities had been recorded.
He noted that although the municipality no longer holds formal responsibility, it continues to document cases, identifying a further 49 buildings—bringing the total to around 180—with varying degrees of risk that require evaluation by the EOA under the new legislative framework.
Highlighting the scale of the problem, the mayor said the municipality had sent a letter to the Ministry of Interior on 19 February 2026, submitting specific proposals and requesting financial support of approximately €3 million, particularly for the city centre.
In its reply on 3 April, the ministry indicated that, as the EOA is now the competent authority, government funding would be directed to support the organisation in the initial stages of exercising its responsibilities. It also noted that amendments to the relevant legislation are being promoted to strengthen enforcement tools and cost recovery mechanisms, with the proposal currently before the House interior committee.
Delays cost lives
At the same time, Armeftis said the municipality continues to take measures within its remit to protect the public, including daily cleaning operations and the removal of bulky and hazardous materials, while cooperating with the EOA to expedite procedures and improve coordination through the provision of immediate information.
However, he stressed that substantive interventions—such as repairs, structural support, securing and restoring buildings—require significant financial resources.
Concluding, the mayor underlined that the problem cannot be tackled in isolation and requires coordinated action from all stakeholders, stressing that “public safety cannot wait”.