7 dead after refugee boat capsizes off Cyprus coast

This undated file photo shows a view of the port of Larnaca, Cyprus. Seven people have been confirmed dead after a refugee boat capsized off the southeastern coast of Cyprus on Monday, authorities said. Search efforts are ongoing for missing passengers, while two survivors, both Syrian men, have been rescued, according to the Cyprus News Agency. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua)

NICOSIA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Seven people have been confirmed dead after a refugee boat capsized off the southeastern coast of Cyprus on Monday, authorities said.

Search efforts are ongoing for missing passengers, while two survivors, both Syrian men, have been rescued, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

The vessel, carrying 21 Syrian migrants, had departed from Tartus, a coastal city in northwestern Syria, approximately 200 kilometers from the accident site. Survivors reported that the boat had capsized four days before being discovered.

A warship, a Hellenic Navy aircraft, four Port and Maritime Police vessels, helicopters, passing ships, and medical teams have been mobilized for the rescue mission.

This incident marks the first reported case of a refugee boat attempting to reach Cyprus from Syria since the collapse of the Assad regime last December.

Authorities have intensified patrols in recent days due to increased migration activity. With ongoing instability in Syria following the regime change, officials fear a potential rise in migrant crossings.

Due to its proximity to Syria, thousands of Syrians have sought refuge in Cyprus during the prolonged Syrian conflict. Many arrived aboard small vessels or traveled through Türkiye, reaching the Turkish-controlled northern part of the eastern Mediterranean island before crossing the UN-policed buffer zone. ■

Cypriot Minister of Defence Vasilis Palmas (2nd L) and Minister of Justice Marios Hartsiotis (2nd R) speak to the media at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Larnaca, Cyprus on March 17, 2025. Seven people have been confirmed dead after a refugee boat capsized off the southeastern coast of Cyprus on Monday, authorities said.

Search efforts are ongoing for missing passengers, while two survivors, both Syrian men, have been rescued, according to the Cyprus News Agency. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua)