Cyprus mounted a rescue operation Thursday after a boat with about 300 people on board was spotted about 100 km off its southwestern coast.
Ministry of defence sources said those on board were refugees, including many woman and children, fleeing the fighting in Syria, Xinhua reported.
The Cypriot defence ministry said it dispatched helicopters and two police launches to an area off the city of Paphos to keep watch on an overloaded fishing boat and provide help.
Ministry sources said first reports about the boat were received by the Cypriot Joint Rescue Coordination Centre from a tanker sailing in the area.
A Cypriot cruise ship, Salamis, which was sailing nearby, was also diverted to the rescue area.
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