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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-07-11Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT - NAVAL BASE - EXPLOSION - VISITPresident of the Republic Demetris Christofias visited earlier this morning the Naval Base Evaggelos Florakis.According to sources during his thirty-minute visit President Christofias met with Minister of Defence Costas Papacostas and other officials of the National Guard and was updated about the explosion and the situation as it unfolds. President Christofias has already left the Base for Nicosia, where an extraordinary Council of Ministers is due to take place at 12:30. Massive explosions occurred at the Naval Base Evaggelos Florakis, at Zygi, near Limassol, few minutes before 6.00 am local time. [02] NAVAL BASE - DEADLY EXPLOSIONMassive explosions occurred at the Naval Base Evaggelos Florakis, at Zygi, near Limassol, few minutes before 6.00 am local time.At least 11 people were killed, five firemen, four National Guard members and two sailors, by the huge blasts which rocked nearby communities and caused extended damages. Nearby Mari village suffered most of the damages. The number of people wounded reached at least 35, three of which are seriously wounded. A crisis management center has been set up at the entrance of the naval base and the operation is under the command of the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Petros Tsalikidis, who is on spot. Tsalikides, while speaking to CNA, said earlier that were trying to manage the crisis. He added that there has been a large scale disaster, after ammunition, stored in containers, caught on fire. According to Tsalikides, the ammunition had been confiscated three years ago from the load of a ship. Right now, we try to manage the crisis, he concluded. A deep crater was caused on the spot of the blast. The naval base had munitions in storage which Cyprus had confiscated from the Monchegorsk, a vessel sailing from Iran to Syria in 2009. Seven ambulances with a team of doctors have been sent to the scene of the explosion. [03] ELECTRICITY SHORTAGES - POWER PLANT - DAMAGEThe Vasilikon power plant has suffered great damage by the explosions which occurred at the Naval Base Evangelos Florakis in the early hours of the morning, said here today President of the Board of Directors of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus Harris Thrassou.Thrassou who is on his way to the Vasilikon station in order to review first-hand the damage caused, stated to CNA that the destruction which took place is very very serious. The Electricity Authority of Cyprus is under great pressure to cover Cyprus electricity needs due to the fact that the Vasilikon power plant is out of order. Massive explosions occurred at the Naval Base Evaggelos Florakis, at Zygi, near Limassol, few minutes before 6.00 am local time. [04] GREECE - NAVAL BASE BLAST - CONDOLENCESForeign Minister Markos Kyprianou held a telephone conversation this morning with his Greek counterpart Stavros Lambrinides, who expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy which hit Cyprus.A press release by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that Lambrinides expressed Greece`s support to Cyprus during these difficult times as well as his condolences to the families of the victims and his wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded. It is noted that the Embassy of Greece in Nicosia has informed the Cypriot government about its readiness to offer any help needed. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |