19 drown, dozens missing as migrant boat sinks off Cyprus

Refugess stand next to an ambulance car as they wait at Tasucu port in Mersin, south-central Turkey, on July 18, 2018 after a boat carrying migrants sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the north of Cyprus

At least 19 migrants drowned and up to 30 were missing Wednesday after their boat sank in the Mediterranean off the north of Cyprus, local security forces said.

The boat was carrying 150 people, reportedly Syrians, when it went down off the coast of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot-controlled portion of the island, which is only recognised by Ankara.