By Melina Demetriou
SEVERAL buildings on Limassol refugee estates run the risk of collapse, the Technical Chamber’s Themos Demetriou said yesterday.
Prompted into action by the damage caused by last September’s earthquakes, the government began a campaign to identify which estates were most in need of repair or reconstruction.
After carrying out a thorough inspection at Makarios C estates in Limassol, the town-planning department has already started renovating half the buildings.
“Many buildings at Makarios C estates as well as Linopetra and Ayios Athanassios estates are badly maintained, have weak foundations and are unsuitable for habitation. They simply do not satisfy the safety standards the ministry has set,” said Demetriou.
“Earthquakes have not caused much damage to the buildings, but a future earthquake could flatten the lot,” he warned.
The Interior Ministry has proposed to Makarios C residents to move to new apartments provided by the town-planning department until their flats are renovated or demolished and rebuilt. As an alternative, the ministry suggested the residents find flats to rent, promising it would cover the cost.
“But no decisions have yet been made as regards to whether any buildings will be repaired. That will be decided based on how much money renovation would cost. If it costs almost as much as rebuilding from scratch, then there is no reason why some buildings should not be demolished.”
But some residents did not want to move out of their flats while repairs were carried out, said Demetriou, causing considerable inconvenience, both for workers and residents, sometimes putting them in danger.
“The Linopetra and Ayios Athanassios estates have not been examined by the town-planning department yet, but that should happen soon. Nevertheless it is clear to the ministry and to us that many buildings there are in a very bad shape.”
Two buildings at the Anthoupolis refugee estates in Nicosia are to be demolished and rebuilt, after similar examinations.
Last week, the residents of the two buildings were asked to leave their apartments because they were close to collapse.
Demetriou also said there were many private buildings that were unsuitable for habitation.
“There are quite many. We do not know which and where they are, but we strongly believe that an inspection should be carried out to identify them. However, the government has not provided for that to happen.”
Demetriou said the owner of a building was responsible for renovating it when necessary, while flat owners shared the responsibility.
