Eight Killed as Passenger Ferry Capsizes off Northern Cyprus

At least eight people have died and more than a dozen remain missing after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus.

The vessel was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when it began taking on water after leaving the coastal town of Kyrenia, according to Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

A major search and rescue operation is under way, with Turkish authorities joining efforts to locate passengers who remain unaccounted for.

The privately owned ferry left the popular holiday resort of Kyrenia at about 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT) on Saturday. Üstel said the vessel had been scheduled to travel to Turkey but its departure had been delayed because of poor weather.

He told Turkish broadcaster TRT that the ferry was struck by two waves. As the captain attempted to recover from the first wave, a second wave hit the vessel, causing it to take on water and eventually capsize.

Helicopters and coastguard vessels have been deployed to the area, while ambulances have been stationed along the coast to receive rescued passengers.

Erhan Arıklı, transport minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said 100 passengers had been brought safely ashore.

The ship’s captain and seven crew members have been detained as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disaster.

Üstel said authorities would conduct a thorough investigation and promised that any negligence would be uncovered.

“No one will be spared, regardless of who they are, who is found to be at fault or responsible,” he said.

He added that the immediate priority was saving lives, with security forces, rescue teams and medical personnel involved in the emergency response.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his condolences to Turkish Cypriots and said search and rescue efforts were continuing without interruption.