Cyprus expands flood risk mapping as weather alerts remain in effect

Cypriot authorities have expanded their flood risk assessment program to cover 43 urban areas across the country, up from the initial 38, following the inclusion of four new sites in Larnaca and one in Limassol. Kostas Aristideou, Senior Hydrologist at the Service of Hydrology and Hydrogeology, stated that this mapping is designed to facilitate disaster prevention and the construction of specialized flood protection infrastructure. The maps are based on scientific models calculating a 5% probability of a flood event occurring once every 20 years.

In tandem with the state planning, the Civil Defense has transitioned to a state of full operational readiness due to back-to-back yellow weather warnings for heavy rainfall and storms. Spokesperson Panagiotis Liasidis noted that climate change has altered weather patterns, resulting in more intense, short-duration precipitation. Search and rescue teams across all districts are now on high alert, fully equipped for water pumping operations and debris removal. The public is urged to take individual precautionary measures, as concerns grow regarding the potential impact on scheduled events, such as student parades.