At least eight people have died and nearly 20 remain missing after a ferry capsized off northern Cyprus, prompting a major search operation involving divers from Turkey.
The double-hulled vessel, carrying 267 people, overturned shortly after leaving the port city of Kyrenia on Sunday on its way to Tasucu in Turkey’s Mersin province. The ferry took on water before flipping over, leaving passengers clinging to the overturned hull.
Passing vessels and coastguard teams rescued survivors from the sea. However, uncertainty remained on Monday over the fate of those still unaccounted for, with officials giving different estimates of the number missing. Some authorities said 19 people were missing, while others put the figure at 18.
The ferry is now lying on the seabed at a depth of more than 500 metres, raising concerns that people could still be trapped inside the vessel. The extreme depth is expected to make the search particularly difficult.
Turkish divers have joined the operation, officials said, as rescue teams continue to search the surrounding waters for survivors.
Relatives and friends of passengers gathered outside the port in Kyrenia through the night, anxiously waiting for information.
Naif Ezer said he had been waiting for around 12 hours for news about three friends who had been travelling home to visit their families. One had been located, but the other two were still missing.
Some relatives sat in silence and cried, while others repeatedly checked their mobile phones for updates from rescue authorities.
The circumstances surrounding the ferry’s capsizing remained under investigation. Accounts from those involved suggested the vessel jolted violently before hitting the surface of the sea. One report said part of the bow was damaged during the incident.
The ferry was operating one of several daily maritime connections between northern Cyprus and Turkey. The route linking Kyrenia with Tasucu is regularly used by passengers travelling between the two destinations.
Authorities have detained the captain and crew for questioning as investigators seek to determine what caused the vessel to take on water and overturn.
The search operation continued on Monday despite the difficult conditions and the considerable depth of the wreck. Rescue teams were working to establish whether any missing passengers could still be located in the surrounding waters or inside the ferry.
Officials have not yet provided a complete account of the identities of those killed, rescued or missing. Families gathered at the port remained hopeful for news as divers and other emergency teams continued their efforts.
The incident is one of the most serious maritime disasters involving a passenger ferry in the region in recent years, with authorities expected to examine the vessel, its operation and the events immediately before it capsized.
