The police and the Fisheries Department are continuing their investigation at the scene of the tragedy at Cape Greco, where businessman Dimis Mavropoulos lost his life.
Exactly what happened during the final dramatic minutes on board the boat, before it was swept out into the stormy sea and crashed into the rocks, is what investigators from the Famagusta CID are trying to determine as they continue their investigation into the tragedy that occurred yesterday amid the severe storm that swept across Cyprus.
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Video from the investigation at the scene of the tragedy:
The victim of the storm was a businessman from Limassol and former rally driver, Dimitris Mavropoulos, who was found dead on a rocky outcrop after his boat ran aground. His boat was completely destroyed by the waves and strong winds, with debris scattered across the sea.
READ ALSO: Grief over the death of Dimis Mavropoulos: Investigations at the scene of the tragedy, shocking images
His daughter and wife were on board with him. The two women were rescued and taken, injured, to the Famagusta General Hospital, where the 30-year-old was later discharged.
See images from the investigation at the scene:
The Meteorological Department has not issued a sailing ban for ships and boats
The Meteorological Department does not issue a ban on the departure of ships and boats, meteorologist Andreas Chrysanthou told CNA, clarifying that “there is no such thing as a sailing ban.” Following the incident at Cape Greco on Saturday—where one person lost their life and others were injured after boats ran aground amid rough seas caused by severe weather conditions—Mr. Chrysanthou referred to the forecast issued by the Meteorological Department, as well as to the orange warning that described the severity of the conditions, which could potentially cause damage and casualties.
As for whether a sailing ban was issued, he noted that what the Meteorological Department issues is a Marine Bulletin, “and that had been issued yesterday. It specifically noted that the wave height in the eastern part of the area was close to 2.5 meters,” he said.
READ ALSO: Shocking moments at Cape Greco: Two boats sank; frame-by-frame footage of the rescue efforts (VIDEO)
He added that the Marine Bulletin also highlighted the orange warning that was in effect, as well as the fact that storms were expected in coastal areas, accompanied by extremely strong gusts of up to 8 and 9 Beaufort.
“So, along with yesterday’s warning, we also had the Marine Bulletin, which was addressed to everyone involved in maritime activities and to the relevant authorities, such as port authorities,” he noted.
According to Mr. Chrysanthou, “the Bulletin made it clear that sea conditions would be dangerous, with wave heights of up to 2.5 meters,” while it also mentioned the possibility of severe storms.
“It had been made clear that severe thunderstorms were also expected in these areas, accompanied by hail and gusty winds,” he said.
He clarified that this specific bulletin pertains to a maritime area extending up to eight kilometers from the Cypriot coastline.
When asked to whom the advisory is sent, he said that “it is sent to all relevant authorities, port authorities throughout Cyprus, private companies, and individuals who own boats.”
READ ALSO: Mourning for Dimos Mavropoulos: Who was the businessman who “passed away” at Cape Greco
He added that “it is a Marine Weather Bulletin issued by the Department of Meteorology” and is updated approximately every six hours.
The intensity of the weather events fell within the parameters of the orange warning
When asked whether the intensity of yesterday’s phenomena was greater than what the Department of Meteorology had predicted, Mr. Chrysanthou replied that yesterday’s conditions “were exactly as forecast.”
“‘Unusual weather conditions are forecast,’ reads the warning. ‘Damage and casualties may occur.’ This is the wording that accompanies an orange warning and urges the public to heed the relevant warnings,” he said.
As he said, “An orange warning, issued with this level of seriousness, given the storms that characterized the entire situation yesterday, means that everything we’ve seen falls within the scope of such a warning.”
“And the intensity, the amount of rainfall, and the severity of the thunderstorms we experienced—yes—were all within the scope of an orange alert,” he emphasized.
READ ALSO: Dimis Mavropoulos, the victim of the tragedy at Cape Greco, was trapped in the wreckage of the boat
He reiterated that “the wording of the orange warning emphasizes that there may be damage and casualties.”
“While a yellow warning indicates that the weather may be dangerous, an orange warning means the weather is dangerous and there may be damage and casualties,” she explained.
The weather system that affected Cyprus has moved away
Referring to today’s weather conditions, Mr. Chrysanthou said that the weather system that affected Cyprus yesterday “has moved away.”
“Today we have very different weather. In most areas, we will have mostly clear skies with some cloud cover,” he said.
He added that clouds may develop, mainly in the mountains and along the southern and southeastern coasts, “which will bring some rain or even thunderstorms.”
He clarified, however, that “we do not expect phenomena like those we have seen,” but simply isolated instances of rain and thunderstorms in these areas.
He added that this will also be the case tomorrow in Cyprus, noting that in the coming days “there will be no significant change.”
As for temperatures, Mr. Chrysanthou said that following yesterday’s noticeable drop, temperatures will return to seasonal norms in the coming days. As he explained, average temperatures for this time of year are around 36 degrees inland, 30 to 32 in coastal areas, and around 28 degrees in the mountains.
“We’ll gradually return to those levels over the next few days. We may reach them by Tuesday or Wednesday,” he added.
For today, he noted that “temperatures are expected to be around 34 degrees inland, compared to yesterday when they dropped to 31 degrees,” while noting that starting tomorrow, temperatures will return to near seasonal averages.
