After authorities mounted a search and rescue operation following the capsize of a boat carrying migrants, the bodies of seven people were recovered off Cyprus on Monday, the state broadcaster said.
According to the broadcaster, an unspecified number of individuals were believed to be missing, while two people were recovered alive from international waters about 30 nautical miles (55.5 km) south-east of the island.
Other reports said the vessel, located around midday on Monday, was thought to have set off from Tartous in Syria with 20 or 21 people on board.
Cyprus’ search and rescue coordination centre stated that assets were in the region conducting a rescue effort but did not mention any casualties.’
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“There is elevated vigilance from port police and today’s incident with (discovering) the first survivor was completely by chance,” Justice Minister Marios Hartziotis told a news briefing.
Alarmphone, an advocacy group, claimed on March 16 that relatives phoned the organisation late Saturday, supplying coordinates for the last known location of persons on a boat in difficulty. It stated that the last known location matched the location of the shipwreck.
In its March 16 post on X, Alarmphone said it informed Cyprus authorities who said they were investigating the report.
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The island, an EU member, is located roughly 100 nautical miles west of Lebanon and Syria. Early last year, it paused examination of asylum applications from Syrians, following an increase in the number of people crossing in small boats.
