in-cyprus 18 March 2025
Search and rescue teams are conducting extensive overnight operations following a deadly shipwreck off the coast of Cyprus, with seven confirmed dead and 12 missing.
The maritime disaster has resulted in seven confirmed fatalities, with all recovered bodies identified as Syrian nationals. Two survivors have been rescued thus far, though the total number of missing persons remains uncertain due to conflicting reports about the vessel’s passenger count.
Search operations will continue throughout the night utilising maritime vessels, helicopter support, and unmanned aerial vehicles, confirmed a Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) spokesperson following an emergency ministerial meeting.
The rescued individuals are experiencing significant hypothermia and psychological distress, hampering investigators’ efforts to establish accurate details about the vessel’s departure location and passenger manifest. Medical experts estimate survival time in current sea conditions is approximately 48 hours, intensifying the urgency of ongoing search efforts.
Maritime authorities have already covered approximately 450 nautical miles in their search pattern, focusing on an area 30 nautical miles southeast of Cape Greco where the initial survivors were located.
Complications arose when the non-governmental organization “Alarm Phone” claimed to have previously alerted authorities about a vessel in distress. Officials confirmed receiving this information on Sunday and dispatching initial reconnaissance resources, though no vessel was located during those preliminary search efforts.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the vessel’s point of origin, with initial reports suggesting departure from Tartous, Syria, while other sources indicate the boat may have launched from Tripoli, Lebanon.
Authorities expect to gather more information as the rescued survivors recover sufficiently to provide formal statements regarding the circumstances of the journey.
