Recent rainfall from storm Barbara brought only minimal relief to Cyprus’s depleted reservoirs, with dam levels remaining critically low, officials have said.
Meteorologist Panayiotis Mouskos described the rain as “gentle and much-needed,” but noted it lasted only one day and was quickly absorbed by the parched ground. Water inflow across ten dams reached just 28,000 cubic meters, leaving overall capacity at 11.9%, compared to 27.7% during the same period last year.
Some reservoirs are nearly empty. The Vizakia and Argakas dams are at just 0.3% capacity, while the Mavrokolympos dam is completely dry despite recent repairs.
Forecasts show continued dry weather, with clear skies and occasional cloud cover expected in the coming days.
The Water Development Department is carrying out maintenance and upgrades at several sites, including the Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias dam, which is being cleaned for the first time since 1957.
Stella Patsali, head of the Dam Safety Unit, said long-standing issues are being addressed, but staffing shortages continue to hamper prevention and maintenance efforts.