Limassol: The restoration works on the electricity network in the fire-affected areas of Limassol are continuing at a steady pace, Christina Papadopoulou, the Spokesperson of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), told CNA on Saturday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, generators have been installed in the centers of seven communities, while in another nine communities, the electricity supply has been restored over a wider area through the network. Papadopoulou reported that 75 out of 400 burned poles, which were dangerously exposed on the ground or roads, have been removed, reaching a total of 133 replacements so far. Additionally, five transformers out of the 50 that have been burnt have been replaced, and 3.5 kilometers of medium voltage overhead network have been constructed to replace the burnt conductors.
Papadopoulou added that since Friday night, permission has been given to use the EAC’s drones in areas that are difficult to access, so that they can record the damages.
Lefteris Christou, the Spokesperson of the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA), stated that since Friday, the operation of all mobile telephony stations in the area has been restored, with work now focusing on the fixed network. He noted that the restoration of mobile telephony was prioritized, as 12 mobile telephony stations in the affected areas had been impacted, primarily due to the interruption of power supply.
He added that from the very beginning, crews were mobilized, and with generators in most cases and diesel fuel, the operation of all stations was restored by Friday noon. “So as far as mobile telephony is concerned, the service is as it was before the fires,” he added. Christou mentioned that CYTA’s crews continue to be on standby to replenish the diesel in those cases where there is still no power supply.
Regarding the fixed network, Christou explained that to evaluate the damage, CYTA needs the power supply to be restored to the villages and therefore to the customers’ premises, so that the appropriate actions can be taken there to restore the fixed communications as well.