At least seven people have died and23 remain missing after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of Turkish‑occupied northern Cyprus, local authorities reported.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel told the state‑run TRT channel on Sunday that 237 people had been rescued, and a search operation continues for those still unaccounted for.
Tufan Erhürman, the Turkish‑Cypriot leader, said rescue teams are working intensively to locate the 23 individuals still unreachable. “If anyone is still inside the vessel, reaching them is difficult at present; we are employing additional technologies,” he added.
The ferry has sunk to a depth of 514 metres, transport minister Erhan Arıklı reported.
The catamaran departed Kyrenia (Girne) port in the breakaway north of Cyprus for Taşucu in Mersin province, Turkey, operating as one of several daily shuttles linking northern Cyprus with Turkey.
The Kyrenia port area, a popular destination for locals and visitors, was the departure point for the private ferry.
Mehmet Harmancı, mayor of northern Nicosia, described the incident as the worst tragedy in more than four decades since the region declared independence. “We have never seen anything like this; it is by far the worst tragedy. There are 23 people still missing. We think most of the passengers were Turks and Turkish Cypriots,” he told CuriosityNews.
Hours after the ferry capsized, details were still unclear. “We do not yet know how many are injured or the severity of their injuries. All injured are being taken to hospitals in northern Nicosia. I am heading to the hospital now and gathering warm clothing,” he said.
Kyrenia mayor Murat Şenkul said the vessel belonged to Filo Denizcilik and had sunk off Diana beach, about 7.5 km (4 nautical miles) from the coast, according to TRT.
Footage from the scene showed people in life vests floating around the overturned hull after the ship capsized, with passengers clinging to it.
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported the ferry was new and that, when it began taking in water four miles from shore, the captain instructed passengers to don life jackets.
Erhürman told CNN Turkish that he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life. “The ship capsized and sank in an area 514 metres deep. So far we have reached 244 people; 237 were found alive, seven have died, and we have not yet reached 23 individuals. Our search and rescue teams are working intensively to locate the remaining 23,” he said from the crisis centre.
The area is experiencing a great sense of shock.
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