Eight Dead and 18 Missing After Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus

At least eight people have died and 18 remain missing after a passenger ferry capsized and later sank off the coast of northern Cyprus, authorities said.

The ferry was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when it began taking on water shortly after leaving the coastal town of Kyrenia on Sunday. The vessel was bound for Turkey and had departed the popular holiday resort at about 12:30 local time.

Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said the majority of people on board had been rescued. Turkish authorities are assisting with an ongoing search and rescue operation for those still missing.

According to Üstel, the ferry had originally been scheduled to sail to Turkey on Saturday but its departure was delayed because of poor weather conditions. He later told Turkish broadcaster TRT that the vessel was struck by two waves before capsizing.

The ferry has since sunk, making the search for the missing passengers more difficult. Rescue teams are continuing operations in the area while authorities work to establish the precise circumstances that led to the disaster.

The captain and seven crew members have been detained as part of an investigation into the incident. Officials are also attempting to recover the vessel’s black box recorder, which could provide important information about the ferry’s condition, movements and events immediately before it capsized.

The incident has raised questions about the decision to operate the ferry following the earlier weather-related delay and about whether the vessel and its crew were adequately prepared for the conditions at sea.

Authorities have not yet released the nationalities or identities of the victims and missing passengers. Families are awaiting further information as rescue teams continue their efforts.

The investigation is expected to examine the weather conditions, the ferry’s safety procedures, its seaworthiness and the actions of the crew before and during the capsizing. Further details are expected as search operations and the investigation continue.