Captain, 7 crew detained after Cyprus ferry disaster kills 8

A ferry disaster off the northern coast of Cyprus claimed at least eight lives, prompting the arrest of the captain and seven crew members, according to Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel. Prime Minister Üstel emphasized that every aspect of the incident would be investigated, highlighting that even minor negligence would be exposed.

The death toll, which had previously stood at seven, was confirmed to be eight by Turkish Cypriot Transport Minister Erhan Arıklı, as reported by BRT. Rescue operations were ongoing, with 267 people on board the vessel, including 259 passengers and eight crew members. The majority were rescued, but searches continued for several missing individuals.

The ferry, en route to the Turkish port city of Mersin from the port of Kyrenia, capsized at noon following a distress call due to water entering the vessel amid rough seas. Eyewitness Efe Mültici recounted chaotic scenes on the lower deck, where passengers had alerted the crew of the water ingress and urged to turn back. Amid strong swells, panic ensued as people scrambled for life jackets, some attempting to break windows to escape.

Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letybiotis expressed condolences to the victims' families and the injured, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed his sympathies. Cyprus has endured a division since 1974, following a Greek Cypriot coup and Turkish military intervention. The self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized solely by Ankara, was established in 1983. Cyprus' accession to the European Union in 2004 marked a significant milestone.