Search continues for 18 passengers after ferry capsized in northern Cyprus

On Sunday, a ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus, resulting in the death of eight people and leaving 18 passengers missing. The vessel, carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members, was en route from the Turkish Cypriot town of Kyrenia to the Turkish town of Tasucu. Among the missing are the 12-year-old daughter and six-year-old son of Ayten Bicer, who managed to stay afloat with her daughter but lost her grip due to the slippery conditions caused by engine oil on the water.

The family was returning from a holiday on Cyprus. Two of the Bicers' three children are confirmed dead. Eight crew members, including the captain, were arrested on Monday and will be held for three days while warrants are issued for others. The ferry had been delayed due to severe storms before setting sail. Eyewitnesses reported the ferry jolting violently and then sinking after slamming into the water, with part of its bow breaking open.

The black box recorder has been recovered to determine the cause of the accident. A ship from Turkey is set to arrive on Tuesday to aid in the search efforts. A three-day national mourning period has begun in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which controls the northern part of the island. The privately owned ferry, a Filo Jet vessel, was operated by Filo Denizcilik, which expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident.