Large group of refugees reaches Cyprus

A boat carrying over 120 refugees reached Cyprus on Wednesday, with reports saying most were Palestinians from Syria.

According to local media, a vessel was spotted six nautical miles off the coast of Cape Greco on Wednesday afternoon around 2:30pm.

A Coast Guard vessel was dispatched in the area and towed the boat carrying the undocumented migrants near a jetty at Paralimni’s Golden Coast. Reports said the passengers were transferred in turns by an inflatable boat onto a walkway due to the small size of the enclosed waterbody.

Families were given priority while there were 97 adult males in the group of various ages, 14 unaccompanied minors, three women, and six small children from three different families. They were said to be from Syria of Palestinian origins.

Civil Defence officials and police officers took part in the operation during which all travelers were registered with state authorities and underwent medical evaluations before being transported to Nicosia’s Kokkinotrimithia facilities close to midnight.

Local media said officers did not locate the captain or any member of the crew, while passengers reportedly paid €4000 each for safe passage to Cyprus.