A violent deluge has plunged northern Cyprus into a state of emergency, claiming at least one life, inundating communities, and threatening critical infrastructure. The intense rainfall, associated with the weather system designated BYRON, began on Monday night and persisted through Tuesday, overwhelming drainage systems and causing reservoirs to breach their banks. Civil defence teams worked through the night conducting evacuations as floodwaters transformed streets into raging rivers, sweeping away vehicles and trapping residents in their homes.
The scale of the disaster became tragically clear with the discovery of a 57-year-old man, Ercin Fevzi, deceased in his vehicle near Alagadi beach. Meanwhile, emergency services undertook perilous operations, rescuing individuals from submerged houses and even saving dogs from a flooded animal shelter in Yenikent. The Cyprus Turkish hoteliers’ association swiftly offered complimentary accommodation to those displaced, a gesture underscoring the widespread disruption to daily life.
Authorities have pinpointed several factors compounding the crisis. Beyond the sheer volume of precipitation, rapid urban development on historical waterways is believed to have exacerbated flooding in areas such as Kioneli. The situation reached a critical juncture when both the Kioneli and Kanli reservoirs overflowed, sending uncontrolled torrents downstream. This cascade effect created what Mehmet Harmancı, the Mayor of northern Nicosia, characterized as a "dangerous situation," placing immense strain on response capabilities.
The impact on infrastructure has been severe and multifaceted. Major arteries, including the vital Kyrenia-Nicosia road, were rendered impassable, while a landslide blocked the route between Agios Epiktitos and Kythrea. Perhaps most alarmingly, the Dr Burhan Nalbantoglu hospital, the largest medical facility in the north, faced direct threat as floodwaters encroached upon its grounds, prompting officials to evaluate potential evacuation protocols for patients and staff. In response to the ongoing peril, the education ministry announced the closure of all schools across the region for Wednesday.
Exhausted local officials conveyed the magnitude of the challenge. Murat Şenkul, Mayor of Kyrenia, stated, "We are sleepless and tired," describing the events as a natural disaster of significant proportions. Environmental experts, including the head of the Biologists’ Association, have raised concerns that floodwaters could now flow into the Mesaoria plain, potentially affecting the Famagusta region and highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the event.
As the immediate crisis abates with the passing of the storm, the region confronts a daunting recovery phase. The incident has ignited urgent discussions about urban planning, water management, and climate resilience in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events. The community now begins the arduous tasks of assessing structural damages, clearing debris, and mourning its loss, while bracing for the potential of further hydrological shifts in the days to come.