Public disclosure of unsafe buildings proposed after fatal collapse in Yermasoyia

Authorities are examining the public publication of approximately 1,300 buildings classified as unsafe for use, as scrutiny of structural safety intensifies following a fatal collapse in Yermasoyia that killed two people.

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has urged district local government organisations (EOAs) to consider making public the details of buildings deemed dangerous, stating that such disclosure would “help inform tenants who may not have been notified” and “protect human life through timely and comprehensive information”.

The buildings form part of construction records transferred to local authorities when responsibility shifted from the central government.

The proposal follows a collapse that resulted in two deaths and has brought renewed focus to an ageing building stock and the absence of mandatory inspection requirements.

More than 270,000 buildings in Cyprus are over 25 years old, including 114,000 built before 1981 and at least 45 years old.

Ioannou stated that publishing the list would “place substantial pressure on owners to fulfil their obligations” and “contribute decisively to preventing new tragic incidents”.

He has also called for updated records, urging local bodies to proceed with reviewing and expanding existing lists of dangerous buildings.

The ministry has made available a fund of €2 million to support interventions where authorities are required to act directly to eliminate risks.

EOAs may draw on the fund “in cases where it becomes necessary for them to take measures themselves”.

Since October, the ministry has also offered to cover the cost of private experts to accelerate inspections, with the aim of “speeding up the identification of dangerous buildings and the implementation of immediate measures”.

Despite these measures, the legal framework continues to place responsibility for maintenance on property owners, with no binding requirement for periodic inspections.

The technical chamber (Etek) has repeatedly warned that this gap leaves thousands of structures unchecked.

Its president, Constantinos Constanti, said the situation “is not a surprise but the result of well established weaknesses” and added that “dangerous buildings have already been identified but without the necessary measures being taken in time”.

He stated that authorities have often been limited to discussion rather than prevention, remarking that “the state consistently reacts after the fact”.

He called for “immediate decisions and coordinated action by all competent bodies”.

Estimates indicate that between 1200 and 2000 buildings across the country are considered dangerous, though officials stress that the absence of a centralised inspection system means the figures remain indicative.

The Yermasoyia building had been flagged years before its collapse, for authorities had issued warnings in 2017 advising owners to appoint a civil engineer and carry out repairs.

An inspection in February 2026 led to its classification as dangerous in March.

Notices were issued, though officials said it remains unclear whether they were received.

Speaking to Alpha TV, a former resident described prolonged neglect of the property, claiming that “the owner did not want to fix the damage”.

He stated that complaints were repeatedly made, saying “we told them many times, but nothing was done”.

Engineers attribute structural deterioration to age, environmental exposure and insufficient maintenance, as coastal conditions accelerate corrosion in reinforced concrete.

Construction practices in earlier decades have also contributed to long term risk.

Following the Turkish Invasion of 1974, shortages of suitable materials led in some cases to the use of untreated aggregates such as beach sand, thus introducing salt into the concrete which expediates degradation.

Seismic resilience remains a further concern, as many edifices predate the introduction of anti-seismic regulations in 1994, while mandatory construction supervision was only implemented in 1999.

Additional evidence comes from inspections of state housing, as recent testing of 358 refugee apartment buildings found that 43 required demolition and 70 required major reconstruction.

A prominent example cited by engineers is the former Othello cinema in Engomi.

A 2026 technical study identified extensive cracking, corrosion of reinforcement and concrete strength below minimum acceptable limits.

The report concluded that repair would be “practically and economically unprofitable” and recommended demolition and reconstruction.

Municipal correspondence described the site as a “hotbed of contamination” with waste, stagnant water, insects and rodents, alongside structural damage posing risks to “neighbouring businesses”.

Enforcement remains limited, as authorities can issue notices and, in urgent cases, intervene directly, but lack mechanisms to ensure systematic inspections or compel preventive maintenance.

Legislative efforts to address the issue have been ongoing but incomplete.

A bill currently before parliament aims to provide stronger legal and administrative tools to local authorities.

Ioannou stated that the proposed framework would allow organisations to “manage the issue of dangerous buildings more effectively” if adopted.

Engineers continue to advocate for a structured inspection regime.

Proposed measures include staged assessments beginning with visual inspections and progressing to detailed structural analysis.

Police have confirmed that the investigation into the collapse is ongoing and will be submitted to the legal service upon completion.

Authorities stated that all evidence is being examined and that further developments are expected following technical assessments and witness testimony.