Up to 100,000 people could be evacuated from Lebanon through Cyprus, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Tuesday, with the government preparing for “all possible scenarios”.

“It will not be an easy operation at all because we’re looking at significant numbers, but we are hoping the ongoing efforts on the diplomatic front are successful,” he told CyBC.

He was speaking as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Egypt and Tel Aviv as part of mediation efforts to clinch a ceasefire deal in Gaza after 10 months of military assaults that now threaten a wider regional conflict.

Kombos described it an “extremely dangerous situation,” which has been escalating for a long period of time, raising concerns.

Nonetheless, Cyprus is preparing for all possible scenarios and carrying out exercises for logistics coordination, he added.

As such, the last briefing when Estia was activated showed numbers approaching 100,000 for those who may be evacuated.

“But we have to be cautious. These numbers tend to be higher as part of a precaution. In 2006 it was 60,000,” he said.

In any case, “we are preparing for the maximum scenario” and cooperating with countries which will be coordinating evacuations.

He did not specify which countries those are but said there is constant communication with diplomatic missions in Cyprus.

Kombos added he has been in close contact with his counterparts from Jordan, Egypt, UK, UAE and Saudi Arabia who have a good picture of what is unfolding in the region.

Evacuations are likely to mean individuals will be in Cyprus for a short time – perhaps even a few hours or days – as they make their way to other countries.

Already, Canada has clinched an agreement with Cyprus over evacuation procedures should they be required.

The foreign ministry has already informed diplomatic missions that the Estia plan to repatriate third country nationals has been activated and the country is ready to help if there are requests to leave the Middle East via the island.

The hub of coordination will be the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Larnaca, which operates around the clock with its primary role to coordinate, control and direct search and rescue operations.

Some tents have been setup, with cots which would be used to process any arrivals.

Deputy minister of migration Nicholas Ioannides previously said Cyprus would be ready to deal with an influx of migrants should the situation in the Middle East worsen.

He said there are national schemes in place including Nafkratis which deals with the management of mass arrivals to Cyprus.

Threats of a larger conflict have escalated after Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah vowed to avenge the targeted killing of two top militants, attributed to Israel.

More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, when Hamas attacked Israeli communities and killed around 1,200 people.