National mourning in Cyprus

National mourning from now until Wednesday was declared by the cabinet of the Cypriot government after the deadly explosions that occurred early on Monday morning at the “Evangelos Florakis” naval base in Zygi, Cyprus.

As announced, the funerals of the victims will be at the state's expense.

After an emergency Cabinet meeting, government spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that the report on the explosion has declared 12 dead and 62 injured.

Of the 62, 50 received first aid and were discharged from hospitals, said the spokesman, while 12 are still hospitalized, of which 2 are in critical condition. He explained that all victims are Cypriots. Mr. Stephanou ruled out sabotage in connection with the explosion.

Moreover, as it became known after the cabinet meeting in Cyprus, Defense Minsiter Kostas Papakostas and the leader of the National Guard, Gen. Petros Tsalikidis, submitted their resignations to the President of the Republic , who accepted them.

Fire Brigade spokesperson, Leonidas Leonidou, said that at around 04:30 a.m. local time there were reports of a fire at the naval base in Zigi and a few minutes later there came an emergency fire call from the nearby electric power station. 

The fire at the station has been put under control.

The Blood Centre has asked for immediate blood donations of all types.

Neoklis Silikiotis, the Cypriot Internal Affairs minister, stated that all recovered bodies are being transported to the General Hospital of Nicosia, but avoided mentioning the exact number. Doctors have postponed all arranged surgeries and psychologists are helping and supporting the relatives of the deceased.  

The base had been hosting 20 Greek Naval officers, who are in good health after the accident. 

The unfortunate event wreaked havoc on traffic on the highway connecting Nicosia and Limassol, and police are there so as to control the jammed road at Mari province, near the base.

Moreover, damage was also caused to electric power stations in the area, which put them out of order. Police and Fire Brigade spokesmen are asking people who own generators to use them in order to unload the blocked power system of the island.

Residents of the area say that around 6a.m. local time, they heard a deafening sound and straight aftewards saw a massive smoke cloud going up in the sky.