A maritime disaster off the northern coast of Cyprus has left at least seven people dead and 24 others unaccounted for, according to Turkish media reports of Sunday’s capsizing incident. The catamaran ferry, carrying a total of 269 passengers and crew, was en route from the port of Kyrenia (also called Girne) in the Turkish-administered northern region of ethnically split Cyprus to Tasucu, a Turkish port located in Mersin province.
Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel confirmed to Turkey’s state-owned TRT news outlet that 237 people have been pulled from the water alive by rescue teams. Search and rescue operations are still actively underway to locate the 24 passengers and crew who remain missing following the incident.
Per Prime Minister Ustel’s account, the vessel encountered severe, unfavorable weather conditions shortly after it departed its starting port. Just 15 minutes after leaving the dock, the ferry began taking on water, and an emergency distress call was dispatched immediately to local authorities. TRT further specified that the water intrusion began roughly 7.5 kilometers, or 4 nautical miles, off the northern Cypriot coast.
Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul added that the sunken vessel is owned by Turkish ferry operator Filo Denizcilik, and capsized in waters close to Diana Beach on Northern Cyprus’ coastline. Raw video footage captured from the disaster zone shows survivors clad in life vests treading water around the overturned hull of the ferry, waiting for extraction by rescue teams.