The Government of Cyprus has sent a message of caution in the face of increased tension in the region. Following the downing of Iranian drones in its airspace, it has urged its citizens to prepare an emergency backpack that can be easily transported in case of evacuation or need for shelter.
The Ministry of the Interior emphasizes that this backpack must be ready to be collected at any time if the authorities issue instructions. Recommended basic items include water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, essential medication, personal documents, cash, flashlight, portable radio and spare batteries.
The Executive emphasizes that this is a preventive measure so that citizens can react quickly and effectively to any eventuality.
How alerts will work
In the event of an imminent or serious threat, sirens will sound in affected areas, especially in urban areas. There would be two different signals.
The first will be an alarm with a fluctuating sound that will indicate serious danger. Given this signal, it is recommended to remain calm, consult only official sources and adopt immediate protective measures.
The second will be a continuous and stable signal that will indicate the end of the immediate danger. Even so, the authorities ask to remain attentive to official communications and maintain prudence.
The Government insists on avoiding the dissemination of unverified information and limiting movements to those strictly necessary, especially if it is ordered to seek refuge.
Two drones intercepted before reaching the island
The activation of these measures comes after two Greek fighter jets deployed at the Pafos air base this Wednesday shot down two drones that were heading towards Cypriot airspace.
The threat was detected in time by the surveillance systems, which allowed interception protocols to be immediately activated. The F-16s located and shot down the aircraft before they entered the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, avoiding a possible risk to regional security.
Hours earlier, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis had reported the detection “of a possible suspicious object in the airspace near Lebanon” and explained that, for preventive reasons, “the competent authorities took all necessary measures to investigate the incident and, if necessary, respond to it.”
