At least eight dead after ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus

At least eight people have died after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, Turkish media reported.

Some 237 people have been rescued, Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel told Turkish state-run TRT news channel.

He said a search was under way for another 22 people.

Mr Ustel said the ferry faced adverse weather conditions and began taking in water just 15 minutes after departure.

A call for help was issued shortly after, he said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his condolences and said his government was co-ordinating with Northern Cyprus in the search and rescue effort.

“We hope we’ll be receiving positive news,” Mr Erdogan said on Sunday in Ankara while speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Turkish Military Academy.

The catamaran-style ferry was travelling from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, in the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province.

Kyrenia mayor Murat Senkul said the ship belonged to the Filo Denizcilik ferry company and sank off the coast of Diana beach on Cyprus’ northern coast.

The ferry started taking in water about four nautical miles off the coast, TRT reported.

Video footage from the scene shows people with life-vests floating in the waters around the capsized vessel.

Constantinos Letymbiotis, spokesman for Cyprus’ internationally recognised government, said in a post on X on Sunday that the government had expressed its readiness to assist in search and rescue efforts with all available means.

Mr Letymbiotis said: “In these trying times, our thoughts are with those who lost their lives, those who were injured and all those who are living this tragedy.

“At such times, the protection of human life is paramount.”