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A dramatic video from the Cyprus Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (ΚΣΕΔ) has captured the moment a survivor was pulled from a wrecked vessel off Cape Greco. The operation also resulted in the recovery of seven bodies. As seen in the footage, the survivor is in critical condition.
Search efforts continue
The search continues today with both sea and air assets deployed, including a British Bases helicopter. Under the coordination of the ΚΣΕΔ, the operation aims to locate other missing persons from the shipwreck, which occurred in international waters off Cape Greco.
Lieutenant Commander George Economou, Deputy Director of the ΚΣΕΔ, reported to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that “the search continued through the night with full intensity, involving a helicopter, boat, and unmanned aerial vehicles of the National Guard, as well as vessels from the Port Police, a helicopter from the Police Air Operations Unit, Ambulance Service personnel, the British Bases helicopter, and nearby ships.”
"Dehydrated and exhausted survivors"
Economou added that “our main concern is to find more survivors, following the discovery of two yesterday and the recovery of seven bodies from the wreck. The bodies have been transferred to the morgue at Limassol General Hospital, while the two survivors are being treated at Larnaca and Famagusta General Hospitals. They are exhausted, dehydrated, and suffering from hypothermia and are currently unable to provide any information.”
Ongoing searches despite time pressure
Economou emphasized that the search continued overnight and will remain intense today. “We are doing everything we can to search every possible area and find any survivors or additional bodies. However, time is against us, as the chances of finding more survivors diminish,” he said. He reassured that the ΚΣΕΔ will exhaust all efforts to locate any living or deceased individuals.
"Every piece of information is evaluated carefully"
He also reiterated that “every piece of information received at the ΚΣΕΔ is assessed with great care. We leave no lead unexplored. If necessary, we carry out further searches using helicopters and maritime assets from the Rescue and Search System.”
He added that “the Centre is continuously receiving and processing information from the relevant Rescue and Search Services. In the past few days, we have conducted extensive searches with helicopters and vessels from the Port Police and the Naval Command, covering a vast sea area southeast of Cyprus.”
Use of advanced technology in the search
When asked if thermal cameras are being used in the search, Economou confirmed, “We utilize any available technology, including thermal cameras and satellite imagery from various EU organizations.”
Regarding recent social media posts by a non-governmental organization claiming they alerted authorities about the shipwreck several days ago, Economou reiterated, “Every piece of information that reaches the ΚΣΕΔ is carefully assessed, and we investigate all leads. If necessary, searches are carried out with helicopters and maritime assets.”
The ΚΣΕΔ continues to coordinate the operation, focusing on human life at sea, with searches being conducted using both sea and aerial resources.
*With information from 24News
