Athalassa Hospital exhumations reveal 33 victims of 1974 Turkish bombing

On 20 July 1974 the Turkish Air Force bombed two wards of Athalassa Hospital in Nicosia, killing 33 people – 31 patients and two nurses – and destroying the wards. The attack lasted from 09:00 to 13:30 and created a crater that buried the victims.

Excavations began in November 2017 under the direction of archaeologist Mikhalis Iakovidis, with the backing of the late Xenos Kalas, to locate the missing bones of those killed. The team uncovered remains wrapped in blankets and sheets, along with personal items such as glasses, a red nylon dress, and up to 30 ampoules of the medication Serenace. The findings confirm the scale of the bombing and the makeshift graves that were used at the time.

The exhumations, carried out over several weeks, have provided closure for families and documented a tragic episode of the 1974 conflict, highlighting the proximity of the hospital to a nearby army depot that was likely the intended target.