NICOSIA: Seven Egyptian sailors were rescued off the Cyprus coast after their cargo ship sank but three crew members remain unaccounted for, Cypriot authorities said on Monday.
A Cyprus police helicopter was called to the scene on Sunday after search and rescue services received a distress signal from a boat in trouble 115 nautical miles south of the Mediterranean island.
Police said they airlifted seven of the 10 crew members to safety after they were located in a life raft. Rescuers are continuing their search for the other three still missing.
The Moldovan-flagged ship is believed to have sunk in bad weather as police said the only trace of vessel was an oil slick at the scene.
Authorities believe that the cargo ship carrying ceramics from Egypt to Syria sank due to a displacement of the 20 containers on board.
The Egyptian government has been informed of the incident. -AFP
