At least eight individuals have tragically lost their lives following a maritime incident where a ferry carrying almost 270 passengers and crew members overturned near the northern coast of Cyprus on Sunday, as per reports from Turkish media outlets. According to Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel, 237 individuals have been successfully rescued, while efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining missing individuals.
The ferry encountered challenging weather conditions and started to take on water a mere 15 minutes after departing, stated Ustel, who also mentioned that a distress call was made shortly thereafter. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his condolences and confirmed that his administration is collaborating with Northern Cyprus to coordinate search and rescue operations.
“We are hopeful for positive updates,” Erdogan remarked during an event in Ankara on Sunday. The ferry, designed in a catamaran style, was en route from Kyrenia, also known as Girne, in the northern part of Cyprus, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province. The vessel, owned by Filo Denizcilik ferry company, sank near Diana Beach on the northern coast of Cyprus, as reported by Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul.
The distressing incident occurred approximately 7.5 kilometers off the coast, as per TRT’s coverage. Footage from the scene depicts individuals wearing life jackets floating near the capsized ferry. Constantinos Letymbiotis, a spokesperson for Cyprus’s internationally recognized government, expressed readiness to support the search and rescue endeavors using all available resources through a social media post.
“Our hearts go out to the victims, the injured, and all affected by this calamity,” Letymbiotis remarked. “Preserving human life is of utmost importance in times like these.”