Ferry captain appears in Cyprus court as 20 still missing
The captain of a ferry that capsized off northern Cyprus, leaving at least eight dead, appeared in court as rescuers continued to search for 20 people still missing, officials said.
A ferry captain appeared in a court in northern Cyprus as 20 people remained missing after a capsized vessel left eight dead, officials reported. The crowded ferry, carrying 267 individuals, capsized off the northern shores of the divided island, near the port of Kyrenia. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) rescuers rescued 239 people, but eight died in the incident.
The search for the missing continues. No information on the nationalities of the dead or missing was provided. Nine individuals, including the captain and crew, appeared in Kyrenia court, charged with negligent homicide. The TRNC president mentioned divers were retrieving data from the vessel's "black box" to determine the cause of the tragedy.
The TRNC vowed to hold the ferry company accountable. UN Secretary-General's representative in Cyprus expressed deep sorrow for the loss of life. Survivors reported hearing an explosion before the capsizing and the boat taking on water. Footage showed passengers wearing life jackets atop the ferry's overturned hull. The ferry sank at a depth of 514 meters.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, with the TRNC in the north and the EU member Republic of Cyprus in the south.
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