Landslide at Stavrovouni monastery quarry raises safety concerns

A significant landslide at a quarry near the Stavrovouni Monastery in the Pyrga region of Larnaca has caused severe geological instability and visible ground cracking. Local authorities, including the Mines and Quarries Service, have confirmed that the reactivation of a landslide—initially identified in 2020—has resulted in cracks extending into monastery-owned land and adjacent state property. According to the monastery’s representatives, recent heavy rainfall has aggravated the situation, with fissures now threatening the structural integrity of nearby buildings.

Stelios Michael, director of the Mines and Quarries Service, noted that although mitigation measures were implemented years ago, the recent intensification of the phenomenon necessitates a new technical investigation. The affected area, which features a vertical depth difference of nearly 150 meters between the quarry operations and the monastery grounds, is currently under scrutiny to determine the risk to buildings constructed in the vicinity in recent years.

The monks have formally petitioned the Department of Town Planning and Housing to take immediate action to stabilize the terrain and ensure public safety. While monitoring is ongoing, technical experts have yet to reach definitive conclusions regarding the long-term stability of the site and the full impact of the quarry operations on the monastery’s property.