Crews were continuing to clean up the road network and damages to the power supply on Monday, in the aftermath of extreme winds on Sunday, which mainly affected the island’s capital.
Gale force winds of up to 7 Beaufort continued to cause problems on Monday as they pounded the island. Serious damage was reported in Nicosia, especially in Ayios Dhometios where properties were destroyed.
Gail force winds as strong as 10 Beaufort ripped through coastal northern parts the island on Sunday, Met office spokesman Andreas Chrysanthou told the CyBC, with reports that a roof blew off a building in Kyrenia onto a roundabout.
Much of the island had been battered by winds as high as 8 Beaufort, he added.
The mayors of Nicosia and Strovolos reported several main road arteries had been affected, including Strovolos Avenue, Iosif Hajiosif street and Latsia Avenue. Christmas decorations were also destroyed and trees over 100-years old felled.
Sunday’s winds caused uprooted trees, broken branches, fallen electricity poles, downed power cables, and construction, and other materials, to be blown about.
The fire service responded to 129 calls, of which 114 were from Nicosia,13 Larnaca, and two from Famagusta, fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis said.
In 24 hours the department responded to more incidents, bringing the total up to 154, of which 137 were special service calls, and 17 fires, the service reported on Monday morning.
The most serious call concerned a tree which had crashed through power lines over three cars, trapping a driver in Ayios Dometios. A rescue team responded to extricate the driver from the vehicle and she was transferred to the Nicosia hospital A&E department for treatment.
The electricity authority (EAC) also talked the driver of a fourth vehicle through how to move, and cut off power to cables that had crashed onto his car, achieving his safe extraction.
Crews were working throughout the night and most incidents involved clearing away fallen trees and blown about makeshift structures, such as awnings from public and private spaces, but also loosened scaffolding, photovoltaic panels, road signs and billboards.
The fire department sent out 13 crews reinforced by the civil defence and organised volunteer groups Support Cy, SOS, and Cyprus Rescue Team, Kettis said.
Nicosia and Strovolos mayors meanwhile urged the public to be especially vigilant about weakened trees which are unstable, and to report any concerns immediately to the following numbers: Nicosia: 22 797000 (24-hour hotline); Strovolos: 22 470400 (working hours 9am-5pm)/ 99 643044 (after hours).
Elsewhere, the EAC announced that its crews had restored power to all medium voltage lines after several of the capital’s streets were left without power in Ayoi Omologites, Strovolos, Lakatamia and Kokkinotrimithia.
EAC crews faced an unprecedented number of calls, spokeswoman Christina Papadopoulou told the CyBC and are continuing to resolve issues affecting low voltage lines in in Nicosia and Limassol.
Related News :