271 illegal migrants arrived in Cyprus on Sunday afternoon on five separate boats from the Lebanese coast.
Four people have already been arrested in connection with the arrival of the boats and the number could rise further. Police, however, have not confirmed the arrests.
The first boat was carrying 21 people, including 19 men and two women, the second 179 (109 men, 17 women and 53 children, of whom 17 were unaccompanied), the third 27 (19 men, two women and six children), the fourth 24 (12 men, two women and six children) and the fifth 20 (11 men, nine women and five children).
The migrants landed at Cape Greco in the Famagusta district, where all relevant protocols were in place. Most of the migrants are Syrian nationals. Their journey from Lebanon reportedly began after weather conditions improved in recent days. Women and children were also among them.
For the police, the arrival of the boats carrying the migrants did not come as a surprise. The police had been warned in advance that boats carrying illegal immigrants had set sail from the Lebanese coast. Nevertheless, the operation to detain the boats and bring them ashore took several hours. After completing the registration process, they were transferred to the Pournara reception centre in Kokkinotrimithia.
