NICOSIA — Cyprus authorities say they have rescued 27 people aboard a small fishing boat that was found drifting ungoverned around 16 miles (24 kilometers) off the Mediterranean island’s northwestern coast.

A statement said Cyprus’ Joint Rescue Coordination Center was alerted late March 31 that the boat was in trouble and dispatched two patrol boats to help.

The passengers, including six women and three children, disembarked at the small fishing harbor of Latsi and are all safe and in good health.

No details were given about where the boat had set sail from or the nationalities of the passengers.

Cyprus lies around 100 miles (160 kilometers) off Syria’s Mediterranean coast and some 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Turkey.