A Cypriot company ship rushed to the aid of a vessel that was engulfed in flames while it was in international territorial waters off Malta, Andreas Charalambides, Commander of the Search and Rescue Coordination Center (CRCC), told CNA.
Mr. Charalambides was called to comment on a news report carried by the Reuters news agency, citing the International NGO "Freedom Flotilla Coalition", according to which "Cyprus responded by sending a vessel" to assist in an SOS distress call sent by a ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists, which was bombed by drones on Friday, while it was in international territorial waters off Malta.
The Commander of the JCC clarified that "a ship of a Cypriot company that was in the area of the incident, as part of the practice followed in similar cases of danger at sea, rushed to the scene to provide assistance to the burning ship and helped extinguish the fire."
He also stated that "the information published today, according to which Cyprus sent any means of providing assistance, is not true."
The NGO posted a video showing a fire on one of its ships, but did not say who might have been responsible for the attack. There was also no immediate indication of any injuries, although the Maltese government later said in a statement that all crew members were "safe."
"The drone attack appears to have specifically targeted the ship's generator and the ship is now at risk of sinking with 30 international human rights activists on board," the NGO said in a social media post, noting that the ship issued an SOS distress call after being hit 17 nautical miles (31,5 kilometers) east of Malta.
It is noted that the Coalition is campaigning to end Israel's blockade of Gaza.
