Off the coast of Cyprus, unconscious migrants were rescued on a boat: three children in critical condition

Off the coast of Cyprus, another vessel with illegal migrants was discovered yesterday afternoon. People aboard the ship were found unconscious, including children. Three girls are in critical condition and are currently in intensive care.

The small wooden boat was spotted approximately 30 nautical miles from the coast of Cyprus by the crew of the cargo ship "Folegandros," who alerted the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus about the migrants aboard the vessel in an unconscious state.

The Larnaca Search and Rescue Coordination Center immediately activated the National Action Plan "Neaarchos," dispatching coast guard and marine police vessels to the area, as well as helicopters from the National Guard and police.

Authorities found that three children and one man were unconscious, and three of them had fractures in their lower limbs.

The arriving Coast Guard ship's crew provided first aid to the patients. Coast Guard and marine police ships, as well as helicopters from the Police Aviation Unit and National Guard helicopter 460 MED, were mobilized to transport the critically ill.

The injured were transported to hospitals accompanied by nurses from the emergency medical service OKYPY. Initially, immigrant patients were transported by ambulances and helicopters to hospitals in Famagusta, Larnaca, and Nicosia, and then treated according to their health condition.

Six children received medical assistance in hospitals throughout Cyprus. Three little girls are in critical condition in the intensive care unit of Makarios Hospital. The children were hospitalized with dehydration and lethargy, and doctors assess their condition as extremely severe. Health Minister Michalis Damianos urgently arrived at the hospital.

Another four adults were transferred to a general hospital in Larnaca: two with fractures in their lower limbs, one with abdominal pain, and one with hypothermia.

The remaining migrants received first aid from emergency medical service teams at the Ayia Napa harbor, where the wooden boat was brought ashore. Employees of Civil Defense provided them with water, food, clothing, and blankets.

As a result of investigations and expertise conducted by competent authorities, it was determined that the ship departed from Lebanon on January 18, 2024. All individuals aboard are of Syrian origin.