Newsroom
Cypriot authorities are conducting an extensive search for a small vessel that disappeared while traveling toward the island. The boat, which left the Israeli port of Ashdod on Sunday, reportedly lost all contact shortly before it was expected to arrive in Cyprus. Five people were said to be on board, though nothing is yet known about their condition.
A separate report from the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Larnaca provides additional context: the center began investigating on Tuesday after receiving notice from its counterpart in Greece that another vessel, which departed from Israel’s Ashkelon Marina on 2 December with four passengers and was headed for Crete, never reached its destination. The last confirmed position of that vessel was approximately 90 nautical miles south of Paphos.
Upon receiving the alert, the JRCC activated the national emergency plan “Nearchos” and initiated several measures. These included issuing radio broadcasts, sending a Navtex alert, and redirecting passing ships to examine the area where the vessel was last detected. Overnight searches continued despite adverse weather, although the conditions have grounded helicopters until visibility and winds improve.
Cypriot officials are also coordinating with Israeli authorities at RCC Haifa, considering the possibility that the vessel may have attempted to turn back because of the weather. According to available information, the 41-year-old captain is regarded as highly experienced.
