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Cyprus

Search continues for migrant who leapt overboard (Updated)

police boat
File photo

A group of 88 migrants spotted off the coast of Famagusta on Sunday afternoon have been sent back to Lebanon, police said on Monday.

One of them, who had jumped off the ship, has still not been found.

The migrant jumped off a ship near Paralimni when it was approached by the authorities, and had not been spotted as of 6pm Monday evening.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when two boats – from Lebanon – were picked up by the marine police’s radars.

The first boat, with 69 people, was identified to be just off Cape Greco while the second boat, with 19 people, was near Paralimni.

The search mission was launched after authorities claimed that five people from the second boat jumped overboard.

The Cyprus News Agency reported that the marine police threw life jackets towards the people in question with three returning and one person refusing to but was pulled out.

CNA cited police sources as saying that the fifth person managed to swim away from the area.

The person’s life jacket was later located, and a search operation was launched with a police helicopter assisting efforts.

Their efforts have so far been unsuccessful however, as the mission was paused at 3am and was later resumed on Monday morning but by 6pm the person had still not been found.

Police are speculating that the person probably managed to reach the shore.

Of those onboard, a pregnant woman was taken to Famagusta general hospital and underwent precautionary tests and was determined to be in good health.

She was transferred to Larnaca hospital on Monday to give birth.

Those remaining on the boats were provided with food and water while they were watched over by the marine police.

Around 2pm, the 88 people boarded a boat chartered as part of the government’s deal with Lebanon to limit migration into Cyprus, and returned to Lebanon.

The boat headed back to Lebanon accompanied by marine police, health and government officials.

Police also said that one of the boat’s passengers had to be airlifted from the boat and taken to Nicosia general hospital for treatment after reporting not feeling well.

 

 

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