Arson incident at Central Prisons triggers security and overcrowding concerns

On Sunday night, a fire broke out at the Central Prisons in Cyprus after inmates intentionally set mattresses on fire in wing 4, specifically spreading across five cells and a corridor. The Fire Service responded to extinguish the blaze, and the area was successfully evacuated by prison staff. One correctional officer was transported to the hospital due to smoke inhalation. The PASYDY union and the Prison Staff Branch highlighted that the facility currently operates at over 200% capacity, the highest in the European Union, which significantly hinders security and oversight. The 'Isotita' union explicitly blamed prison management and Justice Minister Kostas Fytiris, accusing them of criminal negligence and poor infrastructure, such as manual cell doors that allegedly trap staff during emergencies. Unions have demanded an urgent meeting with the Minister and called for immediate measures to decongest the prison, address understaffing, and modernize security protocols. The unions emphasize that the incident could have resulted in fatalities, citing a similar previous fire in December 2025.