THERE IS nothing quite as gut-wrenching as the raw unfettered human grief which was only too apparent at Limassol General hospital yesterday morning, in the wake of the explosion which tore through the army base and surrounding areas at Zygi.
As worried relatives arrived by the dozen, anxious for news of their loved ones, pressurised hospital staff, with the help of the police tried to ensure the atmosphere remained calm.
A police cordon was set up at the front of the building and ambulances arrived from the scene of the explosion, transporting many of the injured for emergency treatment.
Lighter injuries included burns, cuts, lacerations and broken bones.
Emotions ran high amongst the waiting crowd and a few distraught people hurled abuse at high ranking members or the army who arrived at the hospital.
According to doctors 43people who sustained injuries caused by the explosion were being treated at the facility, whilst others were taken to two other clinics in the town.
Two of the injured at Limassol hospital are in a critical condition.
“We have two young patients here who’s condition is very bad, we are doing our best. They have severe injuries all over their bodies. I believe one was a soldier and one was a civilian.”
Student nurses told the Cyprus Mail that the hospital’s emergency contingency plan had been brought into force with every available member of staff being brought in to help with the large numbers of injured.
“We are doing everything we can to help these people, but it’s a terrible situation and so many people are upset.”
A list of names of the injured was announced to the waiting crowd, who were desperate for information.
A member of the police force said: “We fear the missing people may have been blown up in the explosion.” He added: “The police are not responsible for investigating this disaster. An enquiry will be undertaken by the army.”
One of the waiting crowd said: “We are trying to find out what has happened to our friend. He is a soldier and he is here, and he is only 19 years old, but no-one has told us anything yet.”
Stavros an 18- year-old marine was devastated to learn that two of his friends, twin brothers were killed in the explosion.
He said tearfully: “I heard about the explosion on the radio this morning and I rushed to the hospital to check that my friends were alright. But I have just learnt that they were killed. They were twin brothers and they were also from the same area as me. I can’t believe this has happened.”
When the news of the twin’s death was confirmed, a number of waiting friends and relatives couldn’t control their grief and one female relative of the young brothers, believed to be a cousin, collapsed with severe chest pains and was rushed through into the emergency ward by concerned medics.
According to members of the public who were at the hospital, the explosion was felt as far away as the centre of Limassol and Monagroulli village where windows of homes were blown out and doors were damaged.
