A ferry carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members capsized on Sunday off the coast of northern Cyprus during a trip to Turkey. Rescue operations were launched, with Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel confirming to state media that more than 172 people had been rescued from the water while search efforts continued.
The vessel, a catamaran-style boat, was traveling from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, toward the port of Tasucu in the Mersin province of Turkey. According to the Turkish state-run TRT news channel, the ship began taking in water approximately 7.5 kilometers (4 nautical miles) off the coast before it overturned.
Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul identified the vessel as belonging to the Filo Denizcilik ferry company and stated the incident occurred off Diana Beach. While initial reports from local media indicated no known casualties, Ali Murat Basceri, the Turkish ambassador to Nicosia, later told TRT that there were some casualties, though he did not provide a specific number.
Ambassador Basceri confirmed that some of the rescued individuals required hospitalization for their injuries. What happens next depends on the ongoing search and rescue operation; authorities have not yet set a timeline for the recovery of the vessel or the final tally of casualties as the search continues.