Eight Killed and Others Missing After Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus
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By Ruth Comerford and George Wright
At least eight people have died and more than a dozen others are still missing after a passenger boat capsized off northern Cyprus, the head of the Turkish administration there has said.
Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish republic on Cyprus, stated that the ferry was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when it began taking on water after departing the coastal town of Kyrenia. The ship's captain and seven crew members have been detained as part of an investigation into "how this tragedy occurred," Üstel wrote on social media.
A search and rescue operation to locate the passengers still unaccounted for is underway, with Turkish authorities joining in. The privately owned ferry departed the popular holiday resort of Kyrenia at approximately 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT).
Üstel revealed that the boat had been scheduled to travel to Turkey on Saturday but had been delayed due to poor weather conditions. He further explained to a Turkish media outlet, TRT, that the boat was struck by two waves before it capsized. While the captain of the vessel attempted to recover from the first wave, a second wave hit and it began taking on water.
Helicopters, coastguard boats, and ambulances have been dispatched to the scene, with rescue teams and health officials also present. Üstel emphasized that "the priority right now is human life" and assured that the disaster would be thoroughly investigated, promising that "even the slightest negligence will be uncovered." He added, "No one will be spared, regardless of who they are, who is found to be at fault or responsible."
Erhan Arikli, the transport minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), confirmed that 100 passengers had been taken to shore. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences to Turkish Cypriots and stated that efforts to reach those still missing "continue uninterrupted."
Mustafa Koc, who saved around 65 people with his boat after the vessel capsized, told the BBC he believed the crew should have waited until the sea calmed. "It wasn't safe for them," he said. "The sea was quite choppy." Koc added, "People died. It's not right." He noted that the boat had arrived in Kyrenia on Saturday and "had some damage in the front."
The ferry, a high-speed 40m long, 10m wide Filo Jet vessel, sails under the flag of Turkey, according to Marine Traffic. On Sunday evening, Arikli reported to TRT that the ship had completely sunk.