At least eight individuals lost their lives when a ferry carrying around 270 passengers and crew members overturned near the northern coast of Cyprus on Sunday, as reported by Turkish media outlets. Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel informed Turkish state-run TRT news channel that 237 individuals have been rescued, with ongoing efforts to locate those still missing.
Ustel mentioned that the ferry encountered challenging weather conditions and started taking on water just 15 minutes after departing. A distress call was made shortly thereafter. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences and affirmed that his administration was collaborating with Northern Cyprus to manage the search-and-rescue operation.
During a ceremony at the Turkish Military Academy in Ankara on Sunday, Erdogan expressed hope for positive developments, stating, “We hope we’ll be receiving positive news.” The ferry, designed in a catamaran style, was en route from the Kyrenia port, also known as Girne, in the disputed north of Cyprus, to the Turkish Tasucu port in the Mersin province.
According to Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul, the vessel was operated by the Filo Denizcilik ferry company and sank near Diana Beach on the northern coast of Cyprus. TRT reported that the ferry started taking on water approximately 7.5 kilometers off the coast. Videos from the incident depict individuals in life vests floating near the overturned ferry.
Constantinos Letymbiotis, a representative of Cyprus’s internationally recognized government, communicated via the social media platform X that their government was prepared to aid in the search-and-rescue operations using all available resources. Letymbiotis expressed sympathy for the deceased, injured, and all affected by the tragic event, emphasizing the utmost importance of preserving human life during such challenging circumstances.
