Factory owner dies after explosion

THE OWNER of the seed oil factory destroyed by a cistern explosion on Wednesday has died of his injuries.

Savvas Savvides, 53, died at Larnaca general hospital on Friday night.

His 20-year-old son George, who was seriously injured in the blast and resulting fire, is still in critical condition at Nicosia general hospital’s intensive care unit.

Both father and son sustained second and third degree burns to more than half of their bodies after being caught in the blaze at their Savoil factory in Kalo Chorio near Larnaca. The factory was completely destroyed.

Preliminary investigations have shown the explosion was caused by a chemical reaction in the cistern.

Savvas Savvides, the father of three sons including George, married for the second time only four months ago.