Technical Chamber promises inspections of quake hit estates

By Athena Karsera

THE TECHNICAL Chamber yesterday promised to visit quake-hit areas of Limassol, and report to the Interior Minster any cases of serious damage that have been overlooked.

The pledge came after Limassol deputy Doros Theodorou said several refugee houses were in a dangerous state following the 5.8 earthquake that struck Limassol on August 11.

Speaking to CyBC Edek’s Theodorou said: “I visited the Makarios the Third and Linopetra refugee houses and tonight will visit those at Ayios Athansiou. There is no doubt that this is a serious situation.”

He said conditions at the Makarios estate were especially dire, with some houses leaning, while others had parts of their iron rod skeletons exposed, “Engineers have told people not to go onto their balconies in case they collapse.”

“The worst thing is that these people have not been convinced that serious work is being done. Some technicians have come just to see,” without carrying out any work.

He said that even these visits had been few and that some residents were so concerned they were moving into rented accommodation that they were paying for out of their own pockets.

Technical Chamber president Nicos Mesaritis later responded by promising extensive visits would be carried out by his officials within the next 24 hours.

“If some houses are really leaning then it would be illogical for people to live in them not only in calm times but especially when there is the danger of another earthquake. The same goes for buildings with serious damage.”

He said the Chamber had a moral duty to examine the buildings and that, provided Theodorou’s statements were confirmed, Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou would be fully briefed.

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