Missing Israeli yacht found off Cyprus: media
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
An Israeli yacht that went missing in stormy waters en route to Greece has been located after Cyprus launched a national search-and-rescue operation, Cypriot media reported on Wednesday.
Public broadcaster CyBC said the crew of four, all male, were in good health and did not require assistance.
The vessel was returning to the Israeli city of Haifa under sail after suffering engine trouble.
The vessel, which departed Israel on December 2 bound for the Greek island of Crete, had not been heard from since Monday, prompting a joint search-and-rescue operation by Cyprus, Greece and Israel.
The yacht’s last known position was recorded on December 8 inside the Cyprus Search and Rescue Region (SRR), about 89 nautical miles (165 kilometres) from the southwestern coastal town of Paphos, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) said in a statement.
Cyprus maintains one of the largest SRRs in the eastern Mediterranean and frequently coordinates operations involving neighbouring states.
Local reports, quoting Cyprus’s joint rescue centre, said the vessel was located off the southern coast of Limassol at around 5.30pm (1530 GMT) on Wednesday and is currently sailing toward Haifa.
The vessel is expected to return to Israel by Thursday, although its speed remains slow due to a mechanical issue.
The yacht’s troubles coincided with the arrival of storm Byron, which brought heavy rain and high winds across Cyprus.
Byron has caused significant disruptions across the eastern Mediterranean, complicating visibility and search operations.
Source: AFP
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