All the relevant authorities have been informed about recent earthmoving works on a plot near the sea caves near the Paphos district village of Peyia, environment department director Theodoulos Mesimeris said on Friday.

He confirmed to the Cyprus News Agency that the department and the Paphos district government will take legal action against the landowner, adding that the Akamas municipality, the forestry department, and the game service have all been notified.

He added that at present, there is no work is ongoing on the site, and authorities are monitoring the area continuously, though he did say that the latest work appeared to have been carried out in the past two weeks, after construction sites were closed.

Concerns had been raised on Thursday by Green party leader Stavros Papadouris, who accused developers of acting with “incredible audacity,” dumping soil and rubble directly onto the site.

“This is changing the natural character of the area and threatening the stability of the formations,” he said at the time.

The party called for an immediate and thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, local party official Andreas Evlavis said local authorities had failed to enforce environmental restrictions, warning that the sea caves had “lost their character”.

He emphasised the site’s importance as a seal habitat and called for urgent intervention to regulate construction and protect Natura 2000 areas, though Mesimeris on Friday did say that the plot in question is not located inside a Natura 2000 area.