Severe storm causes widespread destruction in Chrysochou district

On Saturday, August 29, 2026, the Chrysochou district in Cyprus was struck by severe weather, including intense rainfall, strong winds, and hail. The storm caused significant destruction across communities such as Argaka, Gialia, Pomos, and Kinousa. Agricultural sectors were hit particularly hard, with greenhouses, avocado and mango plantations, and various seasonal crops suffering extensive damage. Infrastructure was also compromised, as high winds destroyed numerous photovoltaic systems and damaged residential roofs, while fallen trees necessitated fire department intervention to clear road networks. Three waterspouts observed near the coast further exacerbated the impact on the local area.

Following the event, officials, including Minister of Agriculture Christos Senekis and Deputy Mayors Sotiris Koupparis and Patroklos Evangelou, highlighted the scale of the crisis and called for state support. Starting Monday, August 31, inspection teams from the Department of Agriculture were deployed to the affected regions to document losses. According to Andreas Grigoriou, General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, inspectors are assessing the damage to vineyards and seasonal crops. Once the recording phase is complete, the authorities plan to calculate the extent of the damage to facilitate potential compensation under existing state support schemes.