Koutsoventis: The Technical Environmental Committee has maintained a heightened state of alert since a fire erupted at the Koutsoventis landfill, located in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus. The committee's co-chair, Michalis Loizides, relayed to CNA that contact has been established with experts in the field who are overseeing the situation, though the available options for intervention remain constrained.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Loizides highlighted that the fire continues to burn and is not merely a surface-level issue. He stated that despite the flames being visible on the surface and not penetrating deep into the landfill, bringing the fire under control will not be a matter of hours. Instead, it may require several days or even weeks before the blaze is contained and smoke emissions cease.
Loizides further explained that the Koutsoventis site had received EU funding as a sanitary landfill. He suggested that the EU office responsible for overseeing funds to the Turkish Cypriots might step in to support structural improvements, ensuring that similar incidents do not recur. The EU could also demand adherence to protocols and engage in a new phase of planning to rectify the issues, potentially involving the EU in the process.
Proposed measures by Loizides include developing an early warning system for residents on both sides, allowing them to monitor the concentration of specific toxic gases. Should these gases exceed safe levels, warnings could be issued advising residents to stay indoors. In severe cases, evacuation might be necessary, as was considered for areas within 2-3 km of the landfill on the day the fire started.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Civil Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, presenting this situation as an opportunity to enhance communication structures for resident safety. Loizides noted that despite the existence of an early warning system, it should also be linked to incidents like this landfill fire.
Addressing the challenge of extinguishing the fire, Loizides stated that it might take weeks due to the uncertain depth of thermal damage and the conditions needed to extinguish it. Efforts will involve heavy equipment like bulldozers to suppress the fire, drawing parallels to past landfill fires in Kotsiatis that persisted for weeks.
