Ferry carrying approximately 270 people sinks off the coast of northern Cyprus

A passenger ferry capsized on Sunday off the northern coast of Cyprus, shortly after departing from the port of Girne, also known as Kyrenia, bound for the port of Taşucu in Mersin Province, southern Turkey.

Ardahan Arıklı, the Minister of Public Works and Transport of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said the privately operated ferry was carrying 267 people, including 259 passengers and eight crew members.

Security and Judiciary

Political News

Military Conflict Analysis

Arıklı explained that water began to leak into the ferry shortly after it left the port, prompting the captain to send a distress signal. Coast Guard and port authority teams immediately launched search and rescue operations.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Prime Ministry indicated that casualties had resulted from the capsizing, confirming that search and rescue efforts were ongoing.

Murat Şenkol, the mayor of Kyrenia, told CNN Türk that rescue teams had reached 159 of the 258 people aboard the ferry.

The local health ministry announced that medical teams and health facilities were on standby to intervene.

Turkish Cypriot media cited eyewitnesses as saying some passengers jumped into the sea as water began to flood the vessel. Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the leak.