A ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, Turkish media reported. The incident occurred in the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus, where the vessel was en route from Kyrenia to a Turkish port. At least eight people have died in the accident, with some reports citing a higher toll.
Local authorities confirmed that 237 people have been rescued so far, with a search ongoing for the remaining 22. The Turkish Cypriot prime minister, Unal Ustel, provided updates through Turkish state broadcaster TRT, stating that the search operation is still in progress. Emergency services have launched a massive rescue effort, with officials expressing concern over the number of people still missing.
Eyewitness accounts describe chaos as the ferry overturned, with survivors struggling to reach safety. The vessel, which was reportedly carrying both passengers and crew, was part of a regular service between Kyrenia and the Turkish coast. The cause of the capsizing remains under investigation, with authorities urging patience as the search continues.
The incident has raised concerns about maritime safety in the region, with calls for further review of ferry operations. As the search continues, families of the victims await further news, hoping for clarity on the fate of those still missing.
