Rescue Efforts Continue After Ferry Capsizing Off Northern Cyprus
Rescuers were still searching for survivors on Monday, a day after a ferry capsized off the coast of Northern Cyprus, leaving eight people dead and more than a dozen missing, authorities said. The ferry, which had 267 people on board, left the northern port of Girne around midday on Sunday en route to the Turkish mainland but capsized shortly afterwards, sparking a major rescue operation.
According to local authorities, 241 people were rescued, eight died, and another 18 were listed as missing. However, Prime Minister Unal Ustal said rescuers had pulled 239 people to safety and that the search continued for 20 others. The discrepancy in the numbers was not immediately explained.
All eight who died were Turkish citizens, as were 18 of the missing, according to TRNC authorities. The other two missing were from Northern Cyprus.
Officials reported that the ferry sank completely and now lies at a depth of 514 meters, according to Transport Minister Erhan Arikli. He added that recovering the vessel's "black box" would help understand what caused the tragedy.
Detentions and Investigation
Police detained the captain and 15 others in connection with the incident. Nine of them appeared in court in Kyrenia on Monday, charged with negligent homicide, the official TAK news agency reported. The captain was remanded in custody.
The captain and crew, addressing the court, said the front of the vessel had been smashed open by the force of the waves, Turkey's Anadolu state news agency reported.
TRNC President Tufan Erhurman told reporters that divers were trying to retrieve data from the vessel's voyage data recorder. "Divers were deployed today... and this effort will continue tomorrow as well," he said, vowing "to get to the bottom of every aspect." He stressed that the ferry company "will certainly be held accountable." Erhurman added that "definitive information will likely be provided tomorrow in the form of confirmed data."
Survivors Describe Chaos
Several survivors told local media they heard a blast or explosion shortly before the vessel rolled. Passengers said the boat had begun taking on water before it capsized about four nautical miles into the journey. Some survivors also said there was not enough safety equipment for everyone on board.
One young man, Efe Multici, told CNN Turk: "Some people had to jump without lifebuoys or life jackets. It was literally a fight for survival."
Footage from the scene broadcast by Turkish television showed the capsized ferry with passengers wearing life jackets sitting atop its orange hull.
Northern Cyprus began three days of national mourning on Monday.
Context: A Divided Island
The ferry operated between Northern Cyprus, a self-declared state recognized only by Turkey, and the Turkish mainland. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded the northern third of the island in response to a Greek Cypriot coup seeking unification with Greece. The TRNC declared independence in 1983 but is only recognized by Ankara.
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Khassim Diagne, the UN Secretary-General's representative in Cyprus, said he was "deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life" and extended his sincere condolences to the families affected.