At least seven bodies have been retrieved off the coast of Cyprus following a tragic incident in which a boat carrying refugees capsized, as reported by Cyprus’s state broadcaster.
Rescue teams have been working tirelessly to find any missing individuals, with two people already rescued from international waters approximately 30 nautical miles southeast of the island. The search and rescue coordination center of Cyprus has mobilized boats and aircraft to assist in the operation.
A search and rescue mission is currently underway to locate any other individuals who may be missing after the migrant boat capsized not far from Cape Greco. Several naval helicopters and police patrol boats are taking part in the search efforts.
According to a survivor who was rescued, the boat was carrying around 20 Syrian refugees who had departed from the port of Tartous, an area that has experienced recent conflict in Syria. Cyprus, located in the eastern Mediterranean and close to the Syrian and Lebanese coasts, has long been a destination for refugees in search of a better life in Europe.
The number of fatalities in the eastern Mediterranean last year, according to United Nations data, was 125, although the actual figure may be higher. Despite a decrease in overall irregular border crossings into the European Union, crossings over the eastern Mediterranean have seen an increase, as noted by Frontex, the EU border protection agency.
Cyprus has seen a high number of new asylum seeker applications per capita, but has managed to reduce this number significantly in recent years. The Ministry of Interior reported a 69% decrease in asylum applications between 2022 and 2024, with irregular maritime arrivals ceasing since May due to stricter government policies.
Since the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, some Syrian refugees have opted to return home. The Cypriot government has revealed that an average of 40 Syrians per day have expressed their desire to go back home since then. Additionally, more asylum seekers have been leaving Cyprus than arriving, marking a significant shift in the country’s migration patterns.
