It is one of the most popular attractions in Cyprus. The photos from the sea caves in Cape Greco travel thousands of miles and accompany the memories of thousands of tourists. However, the frequent accidents that occur with bathers plus the fact that the erosion of the rock above the caves raises the urgent need for this point to come out of the frame of visitors. At least until action is taken. According to data from the Fire Service, there have been seven incidents this year (last year eight) where rescuers were required to intervene for bathers who fell into the water at that point and were either injured or did not make it ashore.
Recently, all the involved services together with the Municipality of Ayia Napa met on the issue and it was decided to close the public access to the specific point. Until that happens, however, just four days ago, the seventh incident occurred this year when a 43-year-old dived into the sea and felt pain in the middle, apparently due to the height from which she dived for it and needed to be transported to the hospital.
The Department of Geological Survey from 2014 pointed out in its reports the dangers lurking in the sea caves, as the erosion had progressed and suggested taking measures, however until now all that was done was to place a sign, which was vandalized by some .
An alternative is promoted by the Department of Forests, which is also responsible for the area. Although at a recent meeting on 7 June convened by the KSED due to frequent calls for the rescue of people at risk, it was decided to close access to the sea caves, this did not happen. The director of the Forest Department, Charalambos Alexandrou, told "F" that the Geological Survey Department that attended the meeting turned red for public access to the area due to the serious instability problems of the cave. After this placement, he said, the plans changed and it was decided that the Municipality of Ag. Napas will place a guard in the area, which will prevent people from diving into the sea and at the same time the Forest Department, in addition to the existing prohibition sign, will provide an alternative. As Mr. Alexandrou explained, the access to the caves will be cut off with stones and at the same time a new space with a small parking lot will be created next to the point, so that the public can go there to see and photograph the place, but not to dive into the sea.
Stability problem and zero security
According to the results of the geological research, there is a serious problem of stability of the cave and therefore it is necessary to take stabilization measures of lower economic cost. Based on the above, the Department rejects the application of precautionary measures and favors the discreet taking of the necessary stabilization measures. According to a report by the Department, two of the three areas that were separated during the mapping are considered extremely dangerous for detachment and eventually fall. Furthermore, it suggests strengthening the durability of the masonry and roof rocks of the cave, in order to withstand the natural processes of disintegration and erosion in both horizontal and vertical dimensions.
According to the findings of the Department of Geological Survey, the cave under study is the only accessible by land, offers no security to visitors and has only visual contact with the sea. Any operation will change the data and most likely what the visitor admires today. Until his support, the Department suggests that entry to the cave be prohibited.
Fire Department: Rings the alarm bell
The Fire Department owns the part of rescuing people who dived into the sea and were trapped. It is not a few times that the Service was called to the area of the sea caves to pick up the wounded or people who were trapped and could not get ashore.
Assistant Director of Operations of the Fire Brigade, Leonidas Leonidou, tells "Phileleftheros" that up to 10 times a year the Service is called to respond to help the public in the area. The Fire Brigade, he says, responds with rescuers, while at the same time the Air Wing of the Police may respond in case someone is in need of a quick transport to the hospital. The issue of sea caves has two aspects: One concerns the danger to the public and the other to the dangers that lurk for rescuers. We as the Fire Brigade, adds Mr. Leonidou, are concerned that the whole rock has been deemed dangerous for collapse. There is a risk of the rock collapsing, affecting people who rush to help. As a Service, we are taking steps to take measures, meetings have been held, some decisions have been made, in order to prohibit the public from approaching the area, but there has been no result.
The latest information that the Fire Service has from the Department of Forests is that a study is being prepared for the construction of some projects, in order to cut off the approach of the public in the area. Mr. Leonidou notes that even buses or vehicles approach the specific point in order for tourists to photograph the landscape, with the risks increasing if something bad happens. "We are sounding the alarm so that we do not mourn the victims. The whole rock has frames and it was judged by the Department of Geological Survey that it could collapse at any time. That is why it is urgent to take measures ", concludes the officer of the Fire Service.
Source: Liberal