WINTER finally arrived yesterday bringing rain islandwide with particularly heavy downpours in Paphos and Limassol.
And, over the next few days winter’s full force will be felt with more rain,
hail, thunderstorms, heavy winds and snow, according to meteorological service official, Marios Theophilou.
Snow is expected to fall on Troodos by Saturday afternoon. “On Sunday the snow will spread to other mountain areas and maybe even semi-mountainous areas,” said Theophilou, also mentioning the fact that there will be a noticeable drop in temperature on Sunday.
The rainfall yesterday caused numerous problems around the island. Fire department deputy spokesman Marios Kyprianou said: “We had forty calls for help in Limassol and ten in Paphos, thankfully it was mostly minor incidents and they were all dealt with by us.”
Some parts of Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos were left without electricity, a spokesman for the Electricity Authority said.
In Paphos roads were flooded as main arteries in Kato Paphos and the residential area of Universal were rendered impassable. Motorists also reported the main road from Paphos towards Stroumbi-Mesoyi Avenue was also flooded.
Local resident Marios Antoniades, 56, said: “It’s the same thing every year… whenever there’s rain its always treacherous. I don’t understand why the local authorities don’t do something to improve the water drainage.”
Paphos Mayor Savvas Vergas, who is also the head of the sewerage board, admitted there were issues with drainage but he said the municipality was ready to face any problems, which may arise in the coming days due to further bad weather. “Teams are ready to respond,” he said.
Yesterday a number of cars broke down during the first downpour, while others vehicles were damaged as they hit pot holes and open trenches, which were hard to see under the torrent of water.
Police have urged motorists using the Paphos to Polis Chrysochous road to proceed with caution, as mud, small rocks and other debris was being washed down the side of the mountain.
A number of problems were also encountered at the ‘Viofos’ junctions due to construction work being carried out as part of the second phase of the north circular road.
Members of the cleanup teams from the municipality, as well as the district office and the department of transport and works, cleaned storm drains and removed huge quantities of mud, sticks and stones washed down by the rain.
Also yesterday a charity event due to be held tomorrow to make the world’s biggest sheftalia was cancelled by the DIKO Limassol youth party due to the weather forecast. Organisers of the latest Guinness attempt had hoped that people attending would have helped make and cook the potentially record-breaking sheftalia. The event will now take place on December 19 between 11am and 2pm on Anexartisias street.
