At Least Six Die as Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus
At least six people died and 172 were rescued after a ferry carrying 267 people capsized shortly after leaving Kyrenia, with rescue operations continuing.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A passenger ferry that capsized off Northern Cyprus on Sunday has completely sunk to a depth of 514 meters, a local official said, as the reported death toll rose to seven following the accident.
Erhan Arikli, transport minister for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), told Turkish television network TRT that 161 of the 276 people on board had been taken to hospital, while 76 had returned to their families.
Earlier, Unal Ustel, prime minister of the TRNC, said the vessel had been carrying 267 people when it rolled over shortly after leaving port, according to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu. He said 172 people had been rescued and that operations were continuing to evacuate the remaining passengers and crew.
Turkey’s ambassador to Nicosia, Ali Murat Basceri, confirmed that there had been deaths but did not initially provide a number. He told TRT that the large majority of the passengers had been rescued.
The cause of the capsize was not immediately known.
The ferry had departed from the Northern Cyprus port of Kyrenia and was heading toward the Turkish port of Tasucu when it capsized.
Images broadcast by Turkish television showed the ferry upside down in the water, with people wearing life vests on top of its orange hull. The weather was sunny, while several boats were seen in the area assisting with the rescue operation.
The TRNC health ministry said all necessary preparations were being made for a swift response from rescue and health services.
It added that hospitals in the territory had been alerted to provide any medical assistance that might be required.
Turkey’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said Turkey was providing all necessary assistance to the search and rescue operations.
The TRNC, which is recognized only by Turkey, controls the northern third of the island of Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974.
Northern Cyprus is served by regular air and sea links with Turkey and remains dependent on Ankara.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to visit the TRNC on Monday to meet its president, Tufan Erhurmann, who was elected by voters in the territory in October.
The planned visit would be Erdogan’s first to the territory since 2023.
With the ferry now reported to have sunk completely, authorities continue to account for those who were on board and assess the consequences of the accident.