People are being charged exorbitant fees to escape warzones on luxury yachts
People are shelling out up to £1,200 ($1,600) for a seat on one of the yachts travelling from Lebanon to Cyprus, as Israel renewed its bombardment of the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Once a symbol of indulgence, luxury boats operating from the marina in the city of Dbayeh, north of the capital, are now a lifeline out of a warzone.
With the Middle East moving closer to a long-feared regional war, a day after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, only one commercial airline is operating out of Lebanon.
Cyprus is less than 120 miles away from the Lebanese shores, and with no flights available, it is becoming the last option for people to flee Israel’s indiscriminate airstrikes.
A number of companies are advertising their services on TikTok, with the prices of the journey to the Mediterranean island going up rapidly.
When Metro contacted one captain of a luxury boat, he told us the six-hour trip is $1,600 per person.
Just a few days earlier, the same journey was being promoted online for $300 less.
The next available date from Dbayeh to the southeast town of Ayia Napa was also three days away.
Caption: People charged exorbitant amount to flee warzone on luxury yachts Provider: @captainpierre1
Cyprus is less than 120 miles away from Lebanon (Picture: Metro)
‘You must have a Lebanese passport and a visa for Cyprus or a European passport. All our luxury yachts are fully equipped, insured and safe,’ the company added.
It was just a few weeks ago that those same accounts on TikTok shared videos of summer parties on the yachts.
According to Cyprus News Agency sources, up to seven boats from Lebanon are docking daily at the Ayia Napa marina, transporting Europeans and embassy staff.
So far, 30 boats have arrived, with the marina fully prepared to accommodate the continued influx.
A number of companies are advertising their services on TikTok (Picture: @omarmabsou)
Damages caused by Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut (Picture: Shutterstock)
Government estimates place the number of displaced people at more than 1.2 million, particularly in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut.
Thousands have chosen to leave Lebanon entirely, driving across the border into neighbouring Syria and Jordan, seeking respite from Israeli strikes.
Most Western countries have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately and a number of evacuation flights have been dispatched in the last 48 hours.
A charter plane carrying British nationals from Lebanon left Beirut and landed in Birmingham on Wednesday evening.
Further flights are planned for Thursday and over the coming days. A separate scheduled Middle East Airlines service also brought Britons back to the UK.
Foreign secretary David Lammy confirmed: ‘We have arranged another flight for tomorrow, and further flights over the coming days for as long as there is demand and it is safe to do so.
There are fears that Israel could bomb the Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport cutting off the most straightforward exit route for the estimated 4-6,000 British nationals in Lebanon.
Hundreds of British soldiers have been deployed to Cyprus alongside RAF and Royal Navy assets in the region in preparation for a potential evacuation.
Defence secretary John Healey said: ‘They briefed me on the plans, they are ready to go if needed. I have every confidence in our ability to do the job if required.
‘But for now our government advice to all Brits in Lebanon is get out now.’
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