A large-scale immigration enforcement operation in the Cypriot coastal city of Larnaca resulted in multiple injuries after three men reportedly fell from upper floors of apartment buildings while authorities carried out inspections targeting residents believed to be undocumented.

According to local media reports, one man suffered life-threatening head injuries after plunging from a fourth-floor balcony into an internal courtyard. Emergency crews later discovered two additional injured men behind a nearby building. All three were transported to a hospital in Larnaca for treatment, with at least one reported to be in critical condition.

Read AlsoCyprus pushes for 'record number' of deportations

Authorities target migrants believed to be residing irregularly

Police, firefighters and rescue personnel were deployed across the neighborhood as officials sealed off five apartment blocks during the operation. Authorities said the raid targeted individuals believed to be residing in Cyprus without valid documentation.

Witnesses living in the area told local reporters that several abandoned or poorly maintained apartments had been occupied for an extended period, describing the buildings as being in deteriorating conditions.

At least 10 people were taken into custody during the coordinated checks, which were conducted in several parts of Larnaca by immigration and migration authorities.

Read AlsoTransplanted from Syria to Lebanon to Cyprus: A father's determination to save his son

Growing anti-migrant sentiments give popularity to far-right

Cyprus remains among the European Union countries with the highest number of first-time asylum applications per capita, according to figures from Eurostat. In 2025, Cyprus and Spain recorded 2.9 asylum applicants per 1,000 residents, while Greece registered the highest rate in the bloc.

The operation comes amid growing political pressure over migration in Cyprus, following recent parliamentary elections in which the far-right ELAM party and other anti-establishment movements saw a surge in popularity.

Official results showed Elam securing roughly 11 percent of the vote, marking a sharp increase from its performance in the previous election and making it the third-largest party in the country’s 56-seat parliament. The party, which traces its roots to Greece’s outlawed Golden Dawn movement, has campaigned for stricter border controls and tougher measures against irregular migration.

Read AlsoItalian PM urges Cyprus to focus on repatriation regulation during EU presidency

Locals increasingly dissatisfied with migration and living costs

Though the conservative Democratic Rally (Disy) and the left-wing Akel party retained their positions as the two largest political forces, the election exposed growing frustration with Cyprus’s traditional centrist parties. Several long-established groups suffered heavy losses, weakening the political base of President Nikos Christodoulides.

Two newcomer parties have also entered parliament, including the anti-corruption movement Alma and Direct Democracy, founded by social media influencer Phidias Panayiotou. Their rise reflected broader voter dissatisfaction with the political establishment and concerns over governance, migration and the cost of living.

If the president fails to secure support from mainstream conservative allies, he could become increasingly reliant on backing from Elam. Elam has advocated a tougher stance not only on migration but also on the long-running division of Cyprus, calling for tighter restrictions at crossing points along the UN-controlled buffer zone separating the island’s Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

With dpa and Reuters