Severe thunderstorms cause power outages and fire in Avgorou, Cyprus

On Saturday, August 29, 2026, severe thunderstorms struck Cyprus, causing significant weather-related incidents across the island. A lightning strike in the Ayios Nikolaos area of Avgorou hit a storage building, resulting in a fire and a localized electricity outage. While unconfirmed reports suggest a residential property may have been struck and its occupants endangered, official sources have not verified these claims.

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) dispatched repair crews to the scene immediately following the incident. Initial projections from the authority indicated that electricity supply would be restored to the affected area within approximately two hours. These events occurred while an orange weather warning issued by the Department of Meteorology was in effect from 10:00 to 19:00 on Saturday.

The Department of Meteorology had previously alerted the public that the island would experience intense weather conditions, including rainfall reaching 55 to 70 millimetres per hour and the possibility of hail. The current situation remains focused on repair efforts and monitoring the ongoing impact of the severe weather system as it moves across the region.