Migrants rescued from boat in distress off Larnaca coast (Update)

AUTHORITIES on Thursday rescued 12 people from a small boat in distress in waters southwest of the island.

Around 1pm authorities issued an alert about a drifting boat about 57 nautical miles off Larnaca.

Ten people were aboard the boat, while two more persons had fallen overboard.

The police immediately mobilised a vessel and placed a helicopter on standby. To save time, they contacted a commercial vessel operating nearby, and directed it to the location of the boat.

The commercial ship located and salvaged all 12 people, who were then transferred onto the police boat arriving in the area.

The police boat returned to Larnaca port shortly after 7pm.

The apparent migrants – 11 men and one woman – were set to be transported to the reception centre for asylum seekers at Kokkinotrimithia.

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