MIGRATION: More migrants arrive in Cyprus as Europe agrees to help

A boatload of 65 migrants, believed to be Syrian, arrived on Cyprus after President Nicos Anastasiades urged European leaders to do more as Nicosia struggles to cope with a spike in asylum claims.

Police said a boat with 65 people on board – 23 men, 18 women and 24 children – were escorted to a fishing harbour in Paralimni on Thursday.

Most of the passengers did not carry any documents and received medical checks before being taken to a reception centre.

Police said their vessel is believed to have set sail from Lebanon and was escorted by patrol boats after being picked up by radar.

The boat's arrival coincided with an appeal for help to cope with migrants that Anastasiades issued to other European Union leaders during a summit in Austria. He said EU leaders showed understanding and that he expects "tangible" assistance.

Anastasiades told the summit that Cyprus with a population of just over a million has reached its limits in absorbing more migrants amid a surge in asylum applications.

Nicosia says that asylum applications in the first eight months have exceeded 4,500, marking an increase of 55% from 2017, when arrivals also spiked 56% on the previous year.

The government said that EU leaders promised support to Cyprus, although no specific measures have been proposed.

"The President expects the (European) Commission and the European Council to provide practical measures to Cyprus in order to address this issue in the most effective way,” said government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou.