A passenger ferry carrying 267 people capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday afternoon, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving coast guard boats, a helicopter, and additional vessels dispatched from the port of Kyrenia.
What Happened
The ferry, traveling from Kyrenia to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province, began taking on water a few kilometers off the northern Cyprus coast before capsizing. It was carrying 259 passengers and 8 crew members, according to authorities. The cause of the capsizing has not yet been determined.
The Rescue Effort
Turkish Cypriot coast guard vessels, a rescue helicopter, and boats launched from Kyrenia responded to the scene. By early afternoon, authorities had confirmed 159 people brought ashore safely, with rescue operations continuing for the remaining passengers and crew.
The Official Response
Northern Cyprus’s transport minister, Erhan Arikli, and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel both traveled to Kyrenia to oversee the recovery effort. The health ministry deployed ambulances to the port to ensure medical care would be available immediately for those brought ashore.
What’s Still Unknown
No deaths or injuries had been confirmed as of the latest reports, though rescue operations were still ongoing and authorities had not yet accounted for everyone who had been aboard. The ferry operator has not been publicly identified.
