Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus, Killing at Least Six
At least six people have died after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, according to Turkish media reports. The incident occurred as the catamaran-style ferry was traveling from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, in the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province.
More than 172 people have been rescued, the region's prime minister, Ünal Üstel, told the state-run TRT news channel. Üstel said the vessel had 267 people on board and that search-and-rescue operations were continuing.
The ferry started taking in water about 5 kilometers (4 nautical miles) off the coast, TRT reported. Video footage from the scene shows people wearing life-vests floating in the waters around the capsized vessel.
Kyrenia's mayor, Murat Şenkul, said the ferry belonged to the Filo Denizcilik company and had sunk off Diana beach. The Turkish ambassador to Nicosia, Ali Murat Basceri, said there were some casualties but did not specify how many, speaking to TRT. Basceri said many of the 259 passengers and eight crew members were rescued, adding that some were taken to hospital.
The cause of the capsizing is not yet known. Northern Cyprus Transport Minister Erhan Arikli told TRT that the ship had overturned and that rescue crews were already on the scene. Arikli said he did not know what caused the vessel to take on water.
Several companies run ferries on the busy route between Kyrenia and Tasucu, and it is not yet known which company was operating the ferry that capsized.
The northern part of the island has been administered by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) since 1974, a self-declared state recognized internationally only by Turkey.