Nicosia, September 1: Turkish Cypriot authorities have reported that rescue operations are ongoing following the capsizing of a Turkish ferry near the northern coast of Cyprus. The death toll has risen to eight, with 18 individuals still unaccounted for.
The double-hulled ferry was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members. It began taking on water shortly after departing from Kyrenia port on Sunday afternoon and subsequently overturned. As of Monday, officials confirmed that 241 people had been safely rescued.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, the ferry sank more than 500 meters deep in the sea after capsizing. It remains unclear if anyone was trapped inside the vessel. However, videos circulating on social media suggest that some passengers were still aboard when the ferry went down.
Turkey has announced it will send a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to assist with the search efforts, expected to arrive at the site by Tuesday.
Turkish Cypriot authorities have detained the ferry’s captain and seven crew members. Local media reports indicate that the ferry had previously experienced issues with water leakage and had undergone repairs.
Some survivors have claimed that the captain and crew were the first to abandon the vessel, leaving passengers without clear instructions for evacuation.
A severe storm hit Cyprus on Saturday, and sea conditions remained hazardous on Sunday. However, officials stated that the ferry’s departure to the Turkish port of Tasucu, located approximately 120 kilometers north of Kyrenia, was deemed safe at the time.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the ferry’s capsizing.
Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred in Sudan, where a passenger ferry capsized in the Nile River, resulting in at least 15 fatalities. According to an official from Sudan’s Civil Defense Authority, high waves caused the boat to overturn. Rescue teams recovered more than 15 bodies, with eight survivors and about four individuals still missing.
Currently, search efforts for the missing passengers from the sunken ferry in Cyprus are ongoing, with rescue teams hopeful for swift discoveries.
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