Cypriot authorities have launched a rescue mission to save hundreds of Syrian refugees stranded on a small fishing vessel off the coast of the island, according to the latest reports.
A defence ministry spokesperson told Reuters,
The latest incident comes after two separate vessels carrying migrants fleeing conflict zones sank earlier this month, killing hundreds.
See our earlier posts: UN Human Rights Chief calls for justice for 'mass murder' of migrants at sea (20 September 2014)
Up to 500 feared dead after migrant boat sinks (15 September 2014)
Migrant boat sinks off Libyan coast, hundreds feared dead (15 September 2014)
A defence ministry spokesperson told Reuters,
"We estimate about 300 people are on board the boat, most of them women and children... They are on a small fishing boat and are possibly refugees from Syria."See photos of the vessel released by the Cyprus defence ministry here.
The latest incident comes after two separate vessels carrying migrants fleeing conflict zones sank earlier this month, killing hundreds.
See our earlier posts: UN Human Rights Chief calls for justice for 'mass murder' of migrants at sea (20 September 2014)
Up to 500 feared dead after migrant boat sinks (15 September 2014)
Migrant boat sinks off Libyan coast, hundreds feared dead (15 September 2014)