Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-07-12

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - THREE DAYS MOURNING

[02] BLAST - DAY AFTER

[03] HOSPITAL - IDENTIFICATION - VICTIMS

[04] EAC - VASSILIKO - BILLIONS - DAMAGE

[01] CYPRUS - THREE DAYS MOURNING

Speaking after an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said the dead from the tragedy have reached twelve and the wounded 62, including two seriously injured.

Furthermore, President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has accepted the resignations of Minister of Defence Costas Papacostas and National Guard Chief of Staff Petros Tsalikides.

The Government has called on the people to cooperate in order to overcome the difficulties arising from the reduced supply of energy and water.

Stephanou said the cabinet decided to call in experts from abroad to assist investigations into the tragedy.

The Government has declared three days of mourning, from Monday till Wednesday. During this time, all flags on state buildings are flying half mast, and all public events are postponed. The funerals of the victims will be held at state expense.

[02] BLAST - DAY AFTER

Police forces, firemen and military staff are around the area, while at the blast spot men are looking for new elements that would help investigations.

The roads have been cleared of shrapnel from Monday`s explosion.

The area around the Naval Base remains blocked.

Trucks have entered the nearby power station at Vassiliko, which was destroyed by the explosion`s shock wave, to clear the area.

[03] HOSPITAL - IDENTIFICATION - VICTIMS

The identification process is taking place in cooperation with the Institute of Neurology and Genetics, with the DNA method.

Psychological support is being offered to the families of the victims by a team of trained police officers, members of the National Guard and the states Mental Health Services.

Twelve people were killed, namely six firemen, four National Guard members and two sailors, by the huge blasts which rocked nearby communities and caused extended damage. Nearby Mari village suffered most of the damage.

The massive explosions occurred at the Naval Base Evaggelos Florakis, in Zygi, near Limassol, a few minutes before 0600 local time.

The blast occurred in the containers, full of munitions, which Cyprus had confiscated from ``Monchegorsk``, a vessel sailing from Iran to Syria in 2009.

[04] EAC - VASSILIKO - BILLIONS - DAMAGE

The power station was destroyed by the shock wave caused by the deadly explosion at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base.

Speaking after a meeting at EAC headquarters, in the presence of the Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) and the Director of the Transmission System Operator, Thrassou said that the EAC was awaiting instructions from CERA in order to examine all scenarios for the production of electricity, beyond the existing production units.

Thrassou told CNA that one of the options would be the use of mobile power production units.

He furthermore noted that the fifth production unit, which had recently been approved for operation, has also suffered damage.

Chairman of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) Charis Thrassou has described the damage to the power station at Vassiliko as huge, noting that it may take billions of euros to restore.

The power station was destroyed by the shock wave caused by the deadly explosion at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base.

Speaking after a meeting at EAC headquarters, in the presence of the Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) and the Director of the Transmission System Operator, Thrassou said that the EAC was awaiting instructions from CERA in order to examine all scenarios for the production of electricity, beyond the existing production units.

Thrassou told CNA that one of the options would be the use of mobile power production units.

He furthermore noted that the fifth production unit, which had recently been approved for operation, has also suffered damage.

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