Search Operation Launched After Israeli Yacht Vanishes Near Cyprus in Extreme Weather

An Israeli yacht that sailed from Ashdod vanished Tuesday night near the shores of Cyprus, triggering a multinational search operation for the four Israelis on board. Cypriot, Israeli, and Greek forces are conducting wide-area scans across the eastern Mediterranean, but as of now, no findings have been reported.

The disappearance comes as Storm “Byron” strikes the region with severe winds, heavy rain, and turbulent seas. The extreme conditions have significantly complicated the search and raised fears for the passengers’ lives, as authorities work against rapidly worsening weather.

The yacht departed Ashdod two days earlier with two Israeli couples in their 50s. They initially planned to sail to Crete but diverted toward Cyprus after encountering the bad weather. Contact was lost south of Cyprus after the yacht’s transmitter stopped sending its location, possibly because the storm disrupted its signal. No distress call was received. 

With the transmitter offline and the yacht without a radar signal, authorities are relying entirely on visual spotting. The search is being conducted within the jurisdiction of Larnaca in Cyprus. Cyprus is also deploying helicopters, patrol boats, and drones within a 200-mile radius off Larnaca. “This is a race against the weather — every hour matters,” a Cypriot spokesperson said, urging ships to steer clear of the area. Winds have reached 100 km/h, with waves measuring around 1.8 meters, making the conditions hazardous for both crews and aircraft.

Israel is participating through its Shipping and Ports Authority and the Foreign Ministry, and naval forces including Shayetet 13, have joined the effort at sea. Greece has redirected Coast Guard vessels from the Aegean to assist. The Israeli Air Force is not participating in the search at the moment, and there are no assessments at this stage.