Bomb shelters cannot accommodate even half the population

There are approximately 2,500 bomb shelters available across Cyprus that can accommodate up to 45 per cent of the population, and efforts are ongoing to increase their number, Civil Defence head Maria Papa said on Monday.

One way to achieve this would be to provide incentives for the reservation of areas in new buildings to be used as bomb shelters.

Sirens and the early warning system are also being promoted, albeit slowly, she said, with officers and volunteers undertaking to inform people in person over potential threats.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, Papa said the service was notified by the National Guard half an hour after midnight that there had been an attack on the British base in Akrotiri.

Civil Defence then activated all procedures, despite the fact that the information was that there was no danger for the people in Akrotiri.

“As a precaution we immediately informed the local authorities and the citizens themselves that those who wanted to, could go to the Limassol KEN army training camp for as long as they wished,” Papa said.

Civil Defence, she added, took all appropriate measures and activated procedures following information it received from the National Guard and the British bases, and teams remain in the area of Akrotiri to offer assistance.

The Red Cross was also notified that their vehicles may be needed to transport people with disabilities or those in vulnerable groups who had difficulty getting about.

“All this was done as a precaution, because the information we had from the National Guard was that the air space was clear, and this was confirmed by the British bases through the foreign ministry,” she added.

Both Papa and Ioannou confirmed the number of bomb shelters and their total capacity. Those who do not have a bomb shelter close by, should remain indoors within a solid construction. If people are outdoors during a raid, then they should drop to the ground, face-down, or lie in a ditch for a few minutes, until the danger has passed.

Ioannou said that for decades the capacity of the bomb shelters was around 30 per cent of the population and that efforts over the past couple of years increased this capacity to around 45 per cent.

“It is a continuous effort,” he said, adding that one of the main difficulties was convincing private owners to concede the use of property for a bomb shelter.

In the meantime, drills are being held to enhance the readiness and response of the people.

Next week, in cooperation with the town planning department, an interior minister decree will be announced, by which construction incentives will be given for all new blocks of flats, in exchange for areas to be used as bomb shelters.

Ioannou also referred to the early warning system, saying the initial tender was withdrawn, a new one was launched in December 2024 and given to the successful bidder in September 2025, with a deadline till June 2026.

“So far, we are within our timeframes,” Ioannou added.

Regarding sirens, Papa said installing them took time and that in Akrotiri officers and volunteers informed the residents in person.