Malfunction of civil defense sirens in Paphos during coup anniversary commemorations

On Wednesday, July 15, sirens across Cyprus were scheduled to sound at 08:20 to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the 1974 coup d'état. However, the Civil Defense alarm system failed to activate or functioned only faintly in many areas of Paphos, including locations near department infrastructure. While sirens reportedly sounded in other cities, the malfunction in Paphos caused significant public reaction and protests, with local officials and politicians questioning the state's preparedness. Preliminary reports from authorities attribute the failure to an aging alert system and unforeseen technical problems. Meanwhile, commemorative events took place throughout Paphos, including wreath-laying ceremonies at the site of the former Free Radio Station and a memorial service at the Cathedral of St. Theodoros. Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis condemned the 1974 coup as a crime against democracy, emphasizing the government's commitment to ending the occupation and reunifying Cyprus. The local municipal authorities expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding the technical failures. Investigations into the exact cause of the system malfunction are currently underway.