CYPRUS police intercepted a migrant boat off Cape Greco on the eastern tip of the island on Thursday evening.
The vessel was in poor condition and letting in water, 14 miles off the cape.
According to authorities, 21 migrants were on board, including women and children.
A 28-year-old man, believed to be the captain, was arrested.
Accoring to new EU figures, Cyprus faced a 122 per cent increase in irregular arrivals in the first seven months compared to the same period last year.
On Thursday, fifteen people were killed when a boat carrying refugees and migrants sank off the coasts of Lesvos island in the Aegean Sea.
Greece’s Coast Guard said that another 15 who had been rescued told authorities that about 40 people were on board when the incident happened.
Rescue operations were hampered by strong winds reaching Category 8 on the Beaufort wind force scale.
