A ferry carrying 258 passengers has capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus, leaving one person dead and 99 unaccounted for, according to Turkish media. The catamaran-style vessel was travelling from Kyrenia to the Turkish port of Tasucu when it sank approximately 2km north of Kyrenia.
Rescue operation launched
Turkish Cypriot coastguard boats were alerted, and a rescue helicopter and other boats from Kyrenia were dispatched to the search and rescue mission. Turkish broadcaster TGRT confirmed one death, and the mayor of Kyrenia said 99 passengers are currently unaccounted for.
Mayor Murat Senkul told CNN Turk that 159 of the 258 passengers on board had been reached, leaving 99 still unaccounted for. The ferry started taking in water a few kilometres off the coast, the Turkish state-run TRT news channel reported.
Officials respond
Northern Cyprus transportation minister Erhan Arikli told TRT that the ship had overturned and rescue crews were already on the scene. Several companies operate ferries on the busy route between Kyrenia and Tasucu, but it is not yet known which company operated the capsized ferry.
Video footage from the scene shows people wearing life-vests floating in the waters around the capsized vessel.
