Limassol: A building collapsed in the Potamos Germasogeias area of Limassol on Saturday, killing two people and injuring three others, police said, as investigations are underway into the circumstances of the incident and possible liability. The collapse occurred at around 1:40 p.m., when part of a three-storey residential building gave away. Police and emergency services rushed to the scene, cordoning off the area while rescue crews from the Fire Service, the Emergency Response Unit, Civil Defence and other agencies launched search and rescue operations.
According to Cyprus News Agency, residents were inside the building at the time of the collapse, with several individuals trapped under the debris before being rescued by emergency teams. Three people were injured and transported to Limassol General Hospital and a private medical facility. Two of the injured, aged 32 and 29, remain hospitalised. The 32-year-old suffered a head laceration, multiple abrasions and a minor intracranial hemorrhage, while the 29-year-old sustained injuries including abrasions to the limbs and a head hematoma. A third injured person, also aged 32, received first aid and was later discharged.
Later in the afternoon, the bodies of two individuals were recovered from the rubble. Their identities have not yet been officially confirmed, with authorities stating that further information will be released at a later stage. Police said in a press release on Monday that a criminal investigation team was appointed immediately after the collapse to examine the circumstances of the incident. They added that statements are being taken from all involved parties, while the case is being assessed in cooperation with relevant authorities. The investigation aims to determine whether any criminal offences have been committed and will be submitted to the Law Office upon completion.
At the same time, Yiannis Tsouloftas, President of the Limassol District Local Government Organisation, told CNA that the building had been officially declared dangerous more than a month before the incident. He said the structure was inspected on February 19, 2026, and formally classified as unsafe on March 10. He added that registered letters were sent to all owners and the building's management committee on March 26, informing them that the property had to be evacuated and repaired. Owners were instructed to appoint civil engineers and were given a three-month deadline to carry out the necessary works.
'We informed them that the building had to be evacuated and repaired,' Tsouloftas said, adding that no action had been taken before the collapse. Following the rescue operation, the Emergency Response Unit handed over the site to the Limassol District Local Government Organisation to address remaining structural risks. Tsouloftas noted that hundreds of dangerous buildings have been recorded across Limassol, stressing the need to accelerate inspection procedures since responsibility was transferred to district authorities in April 2025.
He also highlighted gaps in the legal framework, saying local authorities lack sufficient powers to enforce immediate evacuations, cut off utilities or intervene directly in hazardous buildings. Proposals submitted by District Local Government Organisations include granting the authority to seal unsafe buildings, disconnect electricity and water, impose charges on properties to fund repairs, and criminalize the rental of dangerous structures. Meanwhile, police investigations into the collapse are ongoing and legal proceedings are expected if liability is established.