Two more boats carrying 263 irregular migrants were spotted on Tuesday night by authorities who proceeded with an a rescue operation brining the passengers to the safely of the Larnaca port.
The onslaught of boats setting of from Lebanon transporting mainly male Syrian asylum seekers, marks an immigration crisis for Cyprus, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou told state broadcaster CyBC on Wednesday.
Three members of the cost guard and a police helicopter were deployed to the area where the latest boat was spotted.
The first boat was transporting 27 people, 16 men, five women and six minors, one of whom was unaccompanied. Their details were recorded and then they were transferred to the Pournara reception centre in Kokkinotrimithia. Their boat had been spotted 12 nautical miles east of Cape Greco. Police proceeded to arrest a minor alleged to be the navigator of the boat.
The second boat, carrying 236 people and spotted 35 nautical miles east of Cape Greco, has yet to be brought to port. According to the Cyprus News Agency, it appears to be transporting only men.
A third boat also showed up on police radars which was eventually established not to be carrying migrants.
Since Sunday, 13 boats carrying 739 irregular migrants have arrived on the island. Police have proceeded to arrest ten people, allegedly the navigators of the boats.
In the first three months of 2024, 2,448 irregular migrants arrived in Cyprus by sea.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Mail
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Mail
Source
