‘No water and no electricity, what is this country coming to?’
PAPHOS RESIDENTS were left sweltering without power for more than six hours yesterday, as a high-voltage electricity cable supplying the town shorted out.
As temperatures and the humidity soared, office workers and locals throughout downtown Paphos tried to do their jobs and go about their daily business. Traffic lights, air conditioning and household appliances were out of action for most of the day.
The head of the Electricity Authority in Paphos, Giorgos Pistendis, confirmed a high voltage line had caused the problem.
“The main cable had a problem, and this affected different areas of Paphos,” he said. “Most of Kato Paphos had power restored by 3pm.”
Pistendis admitted problems had also blighted Paphos on Monday, although not on the same scale.
“This is not unusual for this time of year,” he said. “High temperatures are responsible for the problems power lines are experiencing.”
Supply to Paphos was eventually connected at around 4pm.
“I am really fed up,” said one woman visiting the social insurance office, who had no electricity all day. “No water and no electricity, what is this country coming to?”
Hairdresser Andris Melentjevs complained, “We aren’t able to cut any men’s hair, as we can’t use the clippers and we can’t blow dry ladies’ hair. There’s no telephone and no air con; and no cups of coffee.”
“It’s not good enough; I hope this isn’t going to be a typical scenario for the rest of the summer.”
Interruption to electricity supply has been experienced in other places in Cyprus, including Polimideia in Limassol on Monday, for which the Cyprus electricity authority AHK, issued an apology.
Lina Karipidou, a 17-year-old on work experience at a Paphos television station said, “It’s so hot, no one can work. Our computers are down and there is no air conditioning; everyone is very bad tempered.’
Skevi Chrystodoulou suggested the service provided by the Electricity Authority is not up to scratch.
“‘I live in Emba and every couple of weeks we are without power for a few hours. We call the electricity hotline on 1800, to find out the problem; but mostly it rings out.
“Sometimes it’s a recorded announcement of problems areas,” she added, “but it never includes where I live. On occasions you manage to speak to someone, they just put the phone down.”
“I think they built too many houses too quickly between Emba and Tala. The electricity cables are old and can’t cope with the demand.
“In the winter they are always being hit by lightning, and the fuses blow. And whenever it rains, or the conditions are bad, the electricity goes off. They can’t keep blaming weather conditions.
“I have these problems at home, and now I seem to have them at work as well. Every year it’s the same thing and nothing changes. The electricity authority must do something,” she urged.
