Two Somalian women drown in Cyprus

Two young Somali women tragically drowned on Thursday afternoon while swimming near the breakwaters in the Oroklini marine area of Larnaca district, southern Cyprus, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation.

The victims, both aged 20, were residing in Cyprus on work permits. According to police, the women were part of a group of friends visiting the beach in Oroklini when the incident occurred.

Authorities said that at one point, three women from the group entered the water. Shortly afterward, strong sea currents near the breakwaters swept them away, causing them to struggle and call for help. Onlookers quickly responded and managed to rescue one of the bathers, while the other two disappeared beneath the water.

The tragedy occurred in an area where a third lifeguard tower remained unstaffed ahead of its scheduled deployment on July 1, despite two nearby lifeguard towers along the Oroklini coastline being fully operational.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) launched a major search and rescue operation. The effort involved two police speedboats, a National Guard helicopter, a lifeguard rescue boat stationed at Larnaca Airport, a boat from the Larnaca lifeguards club, and two ambulances.

Rescue teams later located the two women unconscious in the water and brought them ashore. They were rushed by ambulance to Larnaca General Hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead on arrival.

Police from the Oroklini station have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities are expected to examine factors including sea conditions, rescue response times, and the absence of staffing at the nearby lifeguard tower.