The beachfront of Varosha has been opened to the public on Thursday for the first time in 46 years in a move by the Turkish-backed government of Northern Cyprus. Hundreds of people descended on the beach in the former resort town that was abandoned when Varosha’s Greek Cypriot inhabitants fled as Turkish troops advanced in 1974. The area was placed under the control of the Turkish military before it was cordoned off and left to the elements for nearly five decades. The move to reopen the area has been criticised by Cyprus’s president amid concerns of rising tensions between Turkey and EU members, Greece and Cyprus

Subscribe to Guardian News on YouTube ►

‘Terrible day’: anger as pictures show Varosha beach in Cyprus opening after 46 years ►

Support the Guardian ►

Today in Focus podcast ►

The Guardian YouTube network:

The Guardian ►
Owen Jones talks ►
Guardian Football ►
Guardian Sport ►
Guardian Culture ►

source