Search continues for migrant who jumped overboard

A search was continuing on Wednesday to locate a migrant who jumped from a boat on Sunday off Paralimni after marine police intercepted a vessel with 18 people on board that had come from Lebanon.

A second boat, also carrying 69 people from Lebanon, was located nearby, sailing seven nautical miles off Cape Greco.
According to police, at one point, five of the passengers in the first boat jumped into the sea. Police threw lifejackets and three of the migrants grabbed on to them. Another refused, but police pulled him out of the water. The fifth however swam away. Reports said he was wearing goggles and fins.

A search failed to track him down but has continued in the areas of Ayia Napa, Cape Greco and Protaras.

Both boats were sent back on Monday accompanied to Lebanon under an agreement between the two countries.