At least seven people have died after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus. The vessel was carrying approximately 270 passengers and crew members when it sank near Diana beach off the coastal town of Kyrenia. An estimated 237 people were rescued following the incident, though reports from local media indicated that 159 people had been reached at an earlier stage of the response.
Unal Ustel, the prime minister of northern Cyprus, told the TRT news channel that the ferry encountered severe weather conditions and began taking on water just 15 minutes after leaving port. The vessel reportedly started taking in water approximately four miles off the shore. The rapid deterioration of the vessel's condition left little time for a coordinated evacuation, contributing to the significant loss of life.
Murat Senkul, mayor of Kyrenia, described the situation as "very serious" in statements to multiple news outlets. He confirmed that the ferry was operated by the Filo Denizcilik company and provided details of the ongoing response efforts.
How did rescue teams respond?
An intensive search and rescue operation was launched immediately after the capsizing. According to Senkul's account, multiple vessels participated in the response, including the Coast Guard, the Akgünler Express vessel, and numerous small boats deployed from nearby areas. The coordinated effort focused on locating survivors in the water and providing emergency assistance.
The mayor appealed to the public to avoid sharing unverified information about the incident, warning that such reports could cause confusion or contribute to the spread of misinformation during the ongoing emergency response.
What happens next?
Authorities are continuing search and rescue operations to locate any remaining missing persons. An investigation into the cause of the capsizing and the vessel's seaworthiness is expected to follow as emergency response efforts conclude.
Key facts
- The ferry was carrying approximately 270 passengers and crew when it capsized near Kyrenia
- At least seven people died in the incident
- An estimated 237 people were rescued from the water
- The vessel began taking on water approximately 15 minutes after leaving port
- Severe weather conditions were cited as a contributing factor to the capsizing
