Popi Christoforou, mother of victims of the Mari explosion, passes away

Popi Christoforou, a prominent public figure in Cyprus known for her long-standing pursuit of justice following the Mari tragedy, passed away on September 6, 2026. She was the mother of twin brothers Miltos and Christos Christoforou, both 18-year-old national guardsmen who were killed during the catastrophic explosion at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base on July 11, 2011.

On the day of the disaster, Christoforou spoke to her sons for the final time at 5:44 a.m. as they headed to the naval base to assist with firefighting efforts. The subsequent massive explosion claimed the lives of 13 individuals in total. For the 15 years following the tragedy, she became a symbol of resilience, persistently advocating for accountability and seeking answers regarding the negligence that led to the storage of volatile munitions.

Her husband, Michalis Christoforou, had previously described her as a pillar of strength for the family and the public. Her death has been widely reported by local media, drawing an outpouring of condolences for the family that lost two sons in the event that remains one of the most painful chapters in modern Cypriot history.