As summer heats up across Cyprus, lifeguard shortages continue to affect the islands beaches, with the most acute staffing gaps reported in Limassol and Paphos. The interior ministry confirmed the ongoing crisis on Friday, raising serious safety concerns for beachgoers heading into the peak summer season.
Andreas Karvounis, an officer with the ministrys beach safety unit, described the recurring difficulty in filling the approximately 380 lifeguard positions jointly funded by the ministry and local authorities. The shortage has become a persistent challenge that shows no signs of easing as tourist numbers climb.
Safety Standards at Risk
Cyprus Lifeguard Federation president Polis Pallikaros warned that reducing staffing at lifeguard towers would run contrary to international safety standards and could hinder rescue operations. He called for an increase in permanent or 10-month lifeguard positions across the island, stressing that staffing needs are currently greatest in Limassol and Paphos.
The numbers paint a stark picture. There are currently 47 permanent lifeguard positions in Famagusta district, compared with just three in Paphos. Paphos must recruit around 110 lifeguards each year to meet seasonal demand, and efforts to fill vacancies are underway but struggling to keep pace.
Equipment Shortages Compound the Problem
Beyond staffing, equipment problems are also evident. Pallikaros highlighted that motorized rescue vehicles, such as jet skis, which enable lifeguards to respond quickly and cover a wider area, are missing from many beaches that desperately need them.
Meanwhile, Limassol district lifeguard officer Sakis Nikolaou warned that beaches along the Governors Beach coastline currently have no lifeguard coverage at all, while only one lifeguard tower is operating along the length of nearby Ladys Mile beach in the British bases.
Trade Unions Sound the Alarm
The comments come after repeated warnings over lifeguard shortages. Earlier this week, trade union Oekdy-Sek said the ongoing lack of lifeguards at Cyprus beaches constitutes a serious safety risk for beachgoers and cannot be tolerated.
This need for proper staffing does not seem to be understood by everyone, the union said. It stressed that a single lifeguard cannot adequately respond to serious emergencies, as a second lifeguard is needed to alert emergency services, retrieve equipment such as a defibrillator, and follow established rescue protocols.
What This Means for Beachgoers
With June now in full swing and summer tourism season ramping up, the lifeguard shortage poses real risks for both locals and visitors. Beachgoers are advised to exercise extra caution, swim only at beaches with active lifeguard coverage, and be aware of the limitations facing rescue services this season.
For a country whose economy relies heavily on summer tourism, resolving the lifeguard staffing crisis is not just a safety issue — it is an economic imperative. The coming weeks will be critical as authorities work to fill vacancies before the peak of the summer season arrives.
Source: Cyprus Mail, June 20, 2026