A Greek Cypriot man died and two other people were hospitalized after rough seas smashed two boats against coastal rocks at Cape Greco in Cyprus on Saturday.
Search and rescue teams recovered six people from three endangered vessels during a major emergency operation off the Agioi Anargyroi area, coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Center activated the national search and rescue plan, named NEARCHOS, at 14:30 local time after receiving reports of three boats in distress. Authorities reported that two of the vessels were completely destroyed when severe sea turbulence forced them onto the rocks. Five of the rescued individuals were winched to safety by rescue helicopters, including the Greek Cypriot man who was recovered unconscious. He was rushed to Famagusta General Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. Two other survivors were admitted to the same hospital for treatment, while two were discharged after receiving first aid. A sixth survivor was rescued by a police boat patrol and was uninjured.
Multiple state agencies joined the response effort, including helicopters from the Police Aviation Operations Unit and the 460 Search and Rescue Squadron of the National Guard. On the ground and shore, crew members from the Famagusta Police Division patrol, the Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK), the Famagusta Fire Station, and the Ambulance Service participated in the operation.
Cape Greco is a prominent rocky headland on the southeastern tip of Cyprus, known for its steep sea cliffs and treacherous coastal waters. Maritime emergency operations in the area are directed by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center, which oversees Cyprus's search and rescue region, while specialized land responses are handled by EMAK, the elite rescue arm of the national fire service.
Severe storm triggers hundreds of emergency calls across Cyprus
The maritime disaster occurred alongside widespread severe weather that battered the island, generating hundreds of urgent requests for assistance. The Fire Service Unified Emergency Operations Center recorded 357 emergency calls across Cyprus directly related to the severe weather conditions, according to Fire Service Spokesperson Andreas Kettis.
Among the most serious incidents was the rescue of a young child in Agios Dometios, a suburb of Nicosia. Writing on the social media platform X, Kettis said emergency crews successfully rescued the child after they became trapped beneath an awning on a fourth-floor apartment balcony. The child was uninjured in the incident.
Kettis noted that the vast majority of storm damage was concentrated in Nicosia District, which accounted for 332 of the 357 calls. The remaining 25 calls were spread across other districts. Fire crews were dispatched to prevent fires and accidents, rescue people, pump rainwater from flooded premises, remove loose building materials, and secure damaged property.
To cope with the high volume of incidents, the Fire Service recalled off-duty personnel to duty and deployed numerous emergency crews. Firefighters worked alongside local municipal authorities, District Self-Government Organizations, Civil Defence personnel, police officers, crews from the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, and organized volunteer groups.
