At least eight individuals have lost their lives following the overturning of a ferry with almost 270 passengers and crew members aboard off the northern coast of Cyprus on Sunday, as per reports from Turkish media. Of the total, 237 individuals have been successfully rescued, stated Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel during an interview with Turkish state-run TRT news channel. A search operation is currently in progress for those still unaccounted for.
The ferry encountered harsh weather conditions and began to take on water merely 15 minutes after setting sail, as mentioned by Ustel. A distress call was promptly made following the incident. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his condolences and assured that his administration was collaborating with Northern Cyprus in the ongoing search-and-rescue mission.
“We remain hopeful for positive updates,” Erdogan remarked on Sunday in Ankara while addressing the Turkish Military Academy graduation ceremony.
The catamaran-style ferry was en route from Kyrenia port, also known as Girne, in the separatist north of Cyprus, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province. Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul noted that the vessel belonged to the Filo Denizcilik ferry company and sank near Diana Beach on the northern coast of Cyprus.
Approximately 7.5 kilometers off the coast, the ferry began taking on water, as reported by TRT. Footage from the scene depicts individuals wearing life jackets floating in the water surrounding the overturned ferry.
Constantinos Letymbiotis, spokesperson for Cyprus’s internationally recognized government, expressed readiness on social media to provide support using all available resources in the search-and-rescue operations.
“Our hearts go out to those affected by this tragedy, including the deceased, the injured, and all impacted individuals,” Letymbiotis mentioned in a post. “Preserving human life is our top priority during such challenging circumstances.”
