Blast in north Cyprus rattles residents on both sides of the island and causes panic

A powerful blast in Lefkosa, north Cyprus caused panic among residents on both sides of the divided capital around 9 am today.

Residents in the south reported hearing a loud noise that shook the entire area. 

“The whole house shook!” one resident wrote on social media. Another described the incident as “a very powerful explosion-like sound that shook the area”.

The explosion occurred in north Cyprus and there was no risk to residents on either side of the island.

According to Turkish Cypriot media, unexploded mortar shells were discovered at a construction site for the new “presidential palace” in Lefkosa.

Turkish forces subsequently carried out a controlled detonation.