A ferry carrying 267 people capsized off the coast of North Cyprus on Sunday, leaving at least one passenger dead and triggering a major rescue operation.
At least six person died after a ferry carrying 267 people capsized off the coast of North Cyprus on Sunday, news agency AFP reported citing Turkish Cypriot authorities.
A major rescue operation was launched after the vessel began taking on water shortly after leaving the port of Kyrenia.
Ferry capsizes shortly after leaving Kyrenia
Turkish Cypriot Transport Minister Erhan Arikli told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency that one passenger died in the incident. Of the 267 people on board, 259 were passengers and eight were crew members.
The privately operated ferry departed Kyrenia at around 12:30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT) and was heading towards Tasucu, a Turkish port in Mersin province, when it began taking on water for reasons that remain unclear.
Local reports said the vessel, believed to be a catamaran, capsized around four miles off the coast.
Rescue operation launched
Rescue teams rushed to the scene, with coastguard vessels, helicopters and private boats deployed to assist those on board. Ambulances were also stationed along the shore as survivors were brought to Kyrenia port for medical treatment.
Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul told CNN Turk that 159 people aboard the vessel had been reached by rescuers, while officials said around 100 passengers had been evacuated to shore.
Arikli said rescuers were working to bring injured passengers to Girne Port before transferring them to nearby hospitals.
Passengers seen on overturned vessel
Television footage showed the ferry overturned in the water, with passengers wearing red life jackets sitting and standing on top of its hull as rescue teams approached.
The weather at the time appeared sunny, with several boats visible around the capsized vessel assisting in the rescue operation.
The incident occurred in the waters off the northern part of Cyprus, which has been under the control of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The TRNC is recognised internationally only by Turkey and controls roughly the northern third of the island, which has remained divided since 1974.
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