Questions remain unanswered regarding the tragedy in Xylofagou, where two children were found dead in a car.

Speaking on the Alpha News program, mechanical engineer and automotive expert Andreas Tzirallis stated that the investigations must be completed before we can say with certainty what happened to the fatal vehicle.

“The message I want to convey is that I don’t want to panic people into thinking that cars are traps that trap you inside. This was a very tragic incident. Certainly, there was a possibility that it could happen under certain conditions, and that’s exactly what happened. It’s always a good idea to take some preventive measures in everything we do in life, including when driving.”

He points out that the chances of someone losing their life are much greater if they are a bad driver or drive recklessly than they are due to this tragic incident that occurred.

“There’s also the possibility of a vehicle malfunction—for example, the front doors locking and not opening, while the rear doors open. It depends on both the vehicle manufacturer and the system.”

Mr. Tzirallis points out that everyone should be thoroughly familiar with their vehicle, as well as any equipment they use, and should inform their passengers accordingly.

He notes that when a vehicle is parked in the sun, temperatures can reach 55–60 degrees Celsius, and that upon entering the vehicle, you should start the engine, open the window, and use the air conditioning to lower the temperature.

“If you’re trapped inside, you should always stay calm and try to open all the doors of the vehicle. Because one of them might—whether due to a mechanical failure, a design flaw, or by design—be locked in what we call a ‘deadlock’ or something similar, there’s definitely a way to get out of the car, to free yourself. The key is to keep your cool and have enough time to do so.”

He notes that modern vehicles have sensors that detect whether anyone is in the vehicle and send a signal to the system to activate the necessary mechanisms.

Regarding the possibility of the vehicle’s battery being discharged, he states that even if that were to happen, there is a manual mechanism for opening the doors.