Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis has said that the report of EU civil protection mechanism experts concerning the damage caused by the deadly explosion at Mari, near Limassol, is important as regards the aid which the Republic of Cyprus will probably receive from the EU Solidarity Fund.

Following the tragic explosion at the naval base “Evangelos Florakis” on 11 July, an EU civil protection team has been deployed to Cyprus, headed by Austrian expert Alois Hirschmugl.

Sylikiotis met on Wednesday with a delegation of the group of experts, which handed over to him a report containing their initial assessment of the damage at the island`s main electricity power plant at Vasiliko. The meeting was also attended by the Head of the European Commission representation in Cyprus Androula Kaminara.

The duty of the experts is to assist the Cypriot authorities in assessing the damage at Vasiliko. This covers engineering damage assessment, restoration work estimates, economic assessment and health and safety issues.