Cyprus police rescue more than 120 stranded refugees

Police in Cyprus have rescued more than 120 refugees, who were left afloat on a boat off the island’s northwestern coast.

According to the reports, there were 42 children, 19 women and 62 men abroad the boat, which was towed by Cypriot rescue workers to the Latchi harbor, a civil defense statement said on Thursday.

The refugees believed to be Syrian nationals are all in good health, according to the statement.

Cypriot police said they were still checking the identity papers of the passengers, but noted that at least nine of the refugees had previously been deported from Cyprus.

The boatman, who left the 123 refugees adrift, reportedly made off on a jet ski.

Police believe that the boat, which was spotted off the coast on Wednesday, had set sail from the Turkish port of Mersin.

The human smuggler(s) obtained $2,200 per person for bringing the refugees to the island, the state-run CNA news agency reported.

EU member Cyprus lies about 100 km off the Syrian coast.

In October, however, 83 Syrian refugees were rescued in similar circumstances.

SS