Search called off for missing swimmer

Authorities on Wednesday afternoon announced they were terminating the search and rescue operation after failing to locate a 70-year-old woman who was reported as missing in Larnaca last Sunday after going for a swim.

Larnaca joint rescue coordination centre (JRCC) said that the search and rescue operation, that was launched on Sunday, was terminated since it was not possible to find the woman.

“Despite the efforts and extensive search by the S&R crews, unfortunately, nothing was found related to the missing woman,” the JRCC said.

The operation to find the woman was launched on Sunday afternoon after the JRCC was alerted of her disappearance in the east of the Phinikoudes beach area at around 1pm, the same day. The woman had gone with a friend to the area, and she went into the water for a swim but has been missing since.

Two helicopters, one of the police, the other of the air force participated in the search as well as vessels of the marine police, a vessel from the Dhekelia British base, and a vessel of the Larnaca lifeguard club, with members of the Larnaca airport lifeguard team.

Members of the fire service’s disaster response unit Emak scoured the area on jet skis while volunteers also joined the search in small vessels.

Other teams, of the police, civil defence, bases, the JRCC and volunteers assisted by searching for the woman through land patrols, also with the use of drones.