Ferry with over 250 passengers capsizes off northern Cyprus coast
A catamaran-style ferry carrying more than 250 passengers capsized off northern Cyprus on Sunday, with authorities confirming fatalities. The vessel was sailing from Kyrenia to the Turkish port of Tasucu.
A ferry carrying more than 250 passengers capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, according to Turkish media reports cited by France 24, AFP and AP.
The catamaran-style vessel had departed from the port of Kyrenia, known locally as Girne, located in the breakaway north of the ethnically divided island. It was headed for the Turkish port city of Tasucu in Mersin province. The route between the two ports is heavily used, with several companies operating ferry services on it. It remains unclear which company operated the vessel that capsized.
Unal Ustel, prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, confirmed that there were fatalities, though he did not provide further details. His statement was reported by Turkey's state news agency Anadolu.
According to Turkish state broadcaster TRT, the ferry began taking on water a few kilometres from the coast before capsizing. Northern Cyprus Transportation Minister Erhan Arikli told TRT that rescue crews had already reached the scene.
Footage circulating from the site showed people wearing life-vests floating in the water around the overturned vessel. Further details on the number of casualties and the progress of the rescue operation have not yet been released.
