A large government building in Larnaca was evacuated after harmful fumes spread through it. The building houses important offices, including the Tax Department. The incident started when a female employee felt suddenly sick. This triggered the emergency plan, and hundreds of staff and visitors had to leave the building quickly.
Early investigations point to a problem with chemicals used during cleaning work on the building's pipes. Experts say someone probably used strong cleaning products in the wrong way. Tasoula Kyprianidou Leontidou, a chemical safety official, explained that while they haven't found the exact containers or people responsible, the evidence suggests very strong chemicals were used. These chemicals were likely more powerful than they should have been.
Thankfully, the emergency response was fast and effective. The evacuation and opening of windows to clear the air helped prevent anyone from getting seriously hurt. The expert explained that mixing common cleaning products can be very dangerous. For example, mixing drain cleaners with bleach can create a toxic gas that makes it hard to breathe and can cause health problems.
This is the third time in a year and a half that a public building in Cyprus has been evacuated because of a chemical problem. This raises questions about whether maintenance staff have enough training. The building will stay closed until officials are sure the air is safe to breathe. This event is a clear reminder that people must always follow safety instructions when using strong chemicals.