Recently, strong winds hit the beaches of Ayia Napa, sweeping away over 400–500 sea beds and umbrellas into the sea. This created risks for public safety and marine life.
Right away, Christakis Papantoniou, a lifeguard from the Famagusta District Administration, started cleaning the seabed. On March 19, 2026, early in the morning, he used a flashlight and special equipment to pull dozens of umbrellas and beds from the water. It was tough work because of the weight of the items and how far they were from the shore.
Most items were in great shape, showing their economic value (about 120 euros each, adding up to over 4,000 euros). Additionally, the metal parts and plastic tables were dangerous for swimmers and marine life. There was also a chance that nearby protected sea caves could be impacted.
Thanks to Christakis Papantoniou and his teamwork with other services, swimmers were kept safe and the marine environment was protected. This showed how important it is to have professionals working to keep our beaches clean and safe.
