[MGSA-L] Explosion at naval base destroys power station, at least 13 dead

[Lampros F. Kallenos]

Today at 4 a.m. there was a fire at naval base "Evaggelos 
Florakis", outside Lemesos.

It was not possible to put the fire under control, and at 
5.50 a.m. 90 commercial containers that were stored in the 
base, full with dynamite and weapons, exploded.

The explosion was very strong. The shock wave of the 
exlosion expanded over a hill, reached over a hill burning 
everything below and destroyed some large buildings and fuel 
stores in the power station of Vasilikos. The tall chimneys 
of the power station survived the wave.

Almost half of the power production capacity is destroyed. 
Vasilikos contributed about a third to the power demand. 
Power stations of Moni and Dekeleia are in operation.

There are 12 confirmed dead, 2 serious wounded. As many as 
62 light wounded.

The containers with the dynamite and weapons were those 
confiscated in January 2009 from a passing ship, allegedly 
intended for organization Hamas.

It may take as much as 6 months to restore the damages.

A meeting between National Guard, Electricity Authority and 
the Mines Authority discussed the problems with the 
containers just before a week ago.



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Lampros F. Kallenos
Idalion, Lefkosia
Kypros
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