Two 20-year-old Somali women tragically drowned at Oroklini beach, raising serious concerns about the lack of lifeguard presence and inadequate warning signage.
- Two 20-year-old Somali women tragically drowned at Oroklini beach, raising serious concerns about the lack of lifeguard presence and inadequate warning signage.
- Tsene's son, equipped with binoculars, spotted one of the women raising her hand, which prompted them to call emergency services. Gavalas arrived shortly after to assist.
The women, who were working in Cyprus, entered the sea on Thursday afternoon with a group of friends. They ventured into the water fully clothed, unaware of the dangers posed by the strong currents between the breakwaters. A local civilian, Panayiotis Gavalas, witnessed the distressing scene and quickly took action, using his inflatable boat to rescue the women.
Gavalas recounted the moment, stating, “There is no lifeguard at this beach, which is why I went. If there had been a lifeguard, I believe the women could have been saved. Between the breakwaters, the sea reaches three metres deep. Where there are breakwaters, there must be lifeguards because there are currents in the corridor between them.”
Another witness, Christina Tsene, was nearby with her son when the incident unfolded. She described seeing the women enter the water joyfully, only to begin crying out for help moments later. Tsene remarked, “If the sea has currents, there should be signage — and large signage, so everyone can see it. We had no idea there were currents. At the very least, there should be a notice saying do not go between the breakwaters. These girls sank very suddenly. Something was happening in there, and they were also wearing their clothes.”
Tsene’s son, equipped with binoculars, spotted one of the women raising her hand, which prompted them to call emergency services. Gavalas arrived shortly after to assist.
The Oroklini beach lifeguard tower was unstaffed during the incident. Reports indicate that, even if lifeguards were present, their shifts typically end by 5pm. The Larnaca District Local Government Administration, responsible for lifeguard employment, confirmed that the tower had been scheduled to be staffed from July 1, but a shortage of personnel has left it unmanned.
Larnaca district is home to 19 lifeguard towers, but currently, Oroklini and eight others remain without staff. District supervisor Savvas Ioannou explained that staffing decisions are based on visitor numbers, stating, “This tower, like the other eight in Larnaca district, is not staffed. We are focusing on other beaches to cover more hours. In all probability, this tower and the remaining eight will not be staffed this year.”
Local Government director Antonis Economides acknowledged the persistent issue of lifeguard shortages, mentioning efforts to recruit additional personnel. He noted that the Interior Ministry has allocated €2 million in this year’s budget to improve lifeguard facilities.
