Eroglu: Greek Cypriots caused flooding in Morphou

TURKISH Cypriot ‘prime minister’ Dervis Eroglu yesterday accused the Greek Cypriot side of  “directing flood waters” to the Morphou area where widespread damage was caused by the heavy rains. He called it “inhuman behaviour”.

Eroglu visited the area yesterday where, according to Turkish Cypriot press, roads were blocked, houses flooded, animals drowned while people and vehicles were stranded. He said it was a “great disaster”

According to reports in the north the heavy flooding was caused by the overflow of dams in the south of the island, “or the uncontrollable opening of dams by authorities in the south”.

The allegations were yesterday rubbished by the Water Development Department. “There are no large dams near the Morphou area, therefore this make no sense,” said an official.

Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou also dismissed Eroglu’s claims. “It is obvious that Mr Eroglu is trying to undermine trust between the two communities in Cyprus,” Stefanou said in a written statement. He said the flood that damaged Morphou was the same one that devastated parts of Astromeritis.