Recalling the fall of Famagusta during the 1974 Turkish invasion

On August 14, 1974, the second phase of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus began, marking a tragic turning point for the city of Famagusta. Residents, who had been living in a state of uneasy ceasefire following the initial invasion, were awakened by explosions near Mia Milia. Faced with the immediate threat of aerial bombardment, thousands of citizens fled their homes, heading toward areas such as Paralimni with only minimal belongings.

By 5:30 p.m. on August 15, 1974—the day of the Dormition of the Theotokos—Turkish ground forces entered Famagusta to link up with forces in the local Turkish Cypriot enclave. The city, which was once vibrant, was abandoned by its legal inhabitants as they sought refuge, driven by the fear of living under Turkish rule. Thousands of refugees were seen walking for kilometers toward Deryneia to escape the occupation. Fifty-two years later, the legal residents remain unable to return to their homes in the city.