The Electromechanical Services Department was trying to determine on Monday whether a fire in a house in Limassol that killed a family of five was caused by a short circuit in the electrical installation, a faulty appliance or some other electrical problem .

The service was called in to assist the police and fire department in the investigation.

In a conversation with CyBC on Monday morning, fire department spokesman Andreas Kettis said that the damage to the building was so great that the fire department could not yet come to any definite conclusions about the cause of the damage .

The investigation is now being continued with the involvement of a specially trained team.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Limassol announced that it would fully cover the funeral costs of all five victims and expressed its “deepest sadness” over the incident .

"The whole city mourns the loss of the family and our thoughts are with their relatives. From the very first moment, the relevant services of our city administration, in cooperation with the central government, stood by the victims' family and provided all possible support," it said.

It added that emergency accommodation had already been secured for the other residents of the building. At the same time, other factors related to the tragedy were pointed out.

"This tragic incident highlights issues related to living conditions, building safety and the overall housing crisis in Limassol . The city faces serious challenges in terms of affordable housing, the safety of older buildings and access to decent living conditions for vulnerable groups," it said.

It was stated that an open discussion on housing policy “cannot wait any longer, as it is a question of dignity, security, quality of life and social justice”.

The tragedy raised the question of why there are so many low-quality household appliances, adapter plugs and extension cables and to what extent their import is sufficiently regulated.

Adapters are widely available and can be found in stores that sell electrical appliances with European two-pin plugs. Experts say using the appliance with a European plug, via an adapter or otherwise, increases the risk of fire. Replacing the two-pin plug with a standard three-pin plug would be the safer option , but doing so will void the appliance's warranty .

Devices, adapters and extension plugs imported from China need to be better monitored, it said.

The way in which electrical installations in private homes and other premises are checked has also been reviewed. Currently, the first check is carried out by the Electricity Authority (EAC), which is also legally obliged to carry out a check whenever there is a change to the installation.

The initial test may only be carried out by an EAC-certified electrician; subsequent tests may currently be carried out by other electricians.

The state carries out random checks on products for sale which are imported after being tested in laboratories abroad.

"The checks and recalls carried out in Cyprus prove that the control system is active and effective and can keep up with the data from other EU member states," said the Ministry of Construction, which oversees the electromechanical services, adding that the aim is to "improve safety and remove products from circulation".

The fire in Limassol was reported at around 4 a.m. on Saturday and four fire engines were on the scene within minutes. The family home was on the second floor and was rebuilt using plywood and other makeshift materials , authorities reported .

The tragedy claimed the lives of a 35-year-old father, a 33-year-old mother and their three children, aged seven, three and two. They were identified as Bassem Adeeb Gamil Takla and Maria Georgiou. The two eldest children were girls and the youngest a boy.

Death of a family of five in fire in Limassol

Source: CyprusMail.com

Author: Iole Damaskinos