Boat with irregular migrants aboard returned to Lebanon

Fifty-six irregular migrants aboard a boat spotted off Cape Greco on Sunday afternoon were denied entry to the Republic of Cyprus and have returned to Lebanon, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Monday.

It said police had been notified of the boat 16 nautical miles south of Cape Greco.

Two coastguard vessels went to the area, one of them with nurses and translators, while the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was informed.

Officers checked the documents of those on board the boat – 39 men, seven women and 10 children – who said they had sailed from Tripoli, Lebanon.

The boat initially headed for the Golden Coast fishing shelter in Protaras, but was denied entry to the Republic and it returned to Lebanon, the news agency added.