At least seven die in ferry capsize off Northern Cyprus; 23 missing

At least seven people lost their lives and 23 others remain missing after a ferry capsized off the coast of North Cyprus on Sunday. The privately-owned vessel, which was carrying around 270 passengers and crew, had departed from the port of Kyrenia at 12:30pm local time. The ship, a catamaran, was en route to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province. The ferry was one of many daily shuttle services connecting North Cyprus with Turkey.

Authorities stated that the ferry began taking on water unexpectedly, causing it to capsize just off the coast of Kyrenia, a popular holiday destination for both locals and tourists. A catamaran, the overturned vessel was spotted with people clinging to its hull, wearing red life jackets. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman announced that 237 passengers had been rescued, while seven had tragically perished.

Efforts to locate the remaining 23 individuals were ongoing, with rescue teams utilizing advanced technologies to reach them.

Video footage showed survivors on top of the overturned ferry, while coastguard and private vessels worked tirelessly to bring them to safety. The disaster came in the aftermath of severe storms that had hit Cyprus earlier in the day, resulting in one death after a sailboat crashed onto rocks in rough seas. Erhurman acknowledged the weather conditions but noted that they were deemed suitable for travel.

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Unal Ustel emphasized that the primary focus of the rescue operation was human life, with all state institutions and security forces actively involved in the search and rescue efforts.