A passenger ferry carrying hundreds of people has sunk off the coast of northern Cyprus, leaving at least eight people dead and 18 others missing. A major search-and-rescue operation involving Turkish authorities is underway as investigators work to establish what caused the vessel to overturn.
Highlights
- Eight people have died following the ferry accident.
- Eighteen passengers remain missing.
- The vessel was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members.
- The captain and seven crew members have been detained.
- Authorities are trying to recover the ferry’s black box to establish what happened.
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Ferry sinks off northern Cyprus
A passenger ferry has capsized and sunk off the coast of northern Cyprus after encountering rough seas, killing at least eight people and leaving 18 others unaccounted for.
The vessel had departed from the coastal resort town of Kyrenia on Sunday, carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members.
Most of those aboard have reportedly been rescued, with Turkish and northern Cyprus authorities coordinating efforts to locate those still missing.
Helicopters and coastguard vessels have been deployed to the area, while ambulances were positioned along the shoreline to receive survivors.
Two waves reportedly caused vessel to overturn
Northern Cyprus authorities said the ferry began taking on water after being struck by two waves.
Transport Minister Erhan Arikli told local media that about 100 passengers had been brought safely to shore.
A local boat owner, Mustafa Koc, also joined the rescue effort and said his vessel helped save around 65 people.
Koc questioned why the ferry had been allowed to sail in rough conditions, saying the sea was particularly choppy.
He also claimed the vessel had arrived in Kyrenia the previous day and appeared to have suffered damage to its front section.
Captain and crew detained
Authorities have detained the ship’s captain and seven crew members as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said investigators would examine whether negligence played any role in the incident.
He promised that the investigation would be thorough and that anyone found responsible would be held accountable regardless of their position.
The ferry had originally been expected to travel to Turkey on Saturday but was reportedly delayed because of poor weather.
Black box could provide answers
The sunken vessel is now being searched for its black box recorder, which investigators hope will provide crucial information about the final moments before the accident.
The ferry, identified as a 40-metre-long, 10-metre-wide high-speed vessel known as Filo Jet, operates under the Turkish flag.
Its operator, Filo Denizcilik, said it was deeply saddened by the incident.
Authorities have also established a hotline to assist relatives seeking information about passengers.
The nationalities of those aboard and the exact condition of the injured have not yet been fully established.
Turkey joins rescue efforts
Turkey has been closely involved in the search operation, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing condolences to Turkish Cypriots.
He said rescue teams had immediately been mobilised in coordination with authorities in northern Cyprus and would continue searching for those still missing.
Images broadcast by local television showed the overturned ferry floating in the water, with several survivors wearing life jackets and sitting on top of the vessel.
By Sunday evening, officials confirmed that the ferry had completely sunk.
A divided island
Northern Cyprus is controlled by the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a political entity recognised internationally only by Turkey.
The island of Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, with the northern third under the control of the Turkish Cypriot administration and the Republic of Cyprus controlling the south.
The ferry tragedy now adds another layer of concern for authorities as the search continues for the missing passengers and investigators work to determine whether poor weather, vessel condition or possible human error contributed to the disaster.
As the search for the missing passengers continues, the tragedy raises difficult questions about maritime safety, weather warnings and whether the disaster could have been prevented.
