Lightning strike destroys café in Lara, Paphos

In the early hours of Friday, September 18, 2026, a café-restaurant located in the protected area of Lara in the Paphos district was severely damaged following a direct lightning strike. The fire, which broke out during a period of intense stormy weather, was reported to the Fire Service at 2:55 a.m.

Two fire engines from the Polis Chrysochous Fire Station were dispatched to the scene, managing to bring the blaze under control by 4:44 a.m. The establishment, a metal structure with a corrugated tin roof, sustained extensive damage; the heat caused the roof to collapse entirely into the interior of the premises. Official investigations confirmed that the ignition was caused by the lightning strike.

The incident occurred during a yellow weather warning that had been in effect since 9:00 p.m. the previous evening, predicting heavy rainfall of 35-55 mm per hour, localized hail, and wind gusts reaching 8 on the Beaufort scale. There have been no reports of further developments or scheduled investigations beyond the initial assessment by the fire department.