At least eight people have died after a passenger ferry carrying nearly 270 people capsized off the northern coast of Cyprus, according to Turkish media reports.
The catamaran-style vessel was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when it overturned shortly after leaving the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, on Sunday.
It was travelling to Taşucu in Turkey’s southern Mersin province when it began taking on water approximately 7.5 kilometres from the coast.
Hundreds rescued from overturned ferry
Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said 237 people had been rescued, while emergency teams continued searching for another 24.
Coastguard vessels, private boats and helicopters were deployed as part of the large-scale search-and-rescue operation.
Footage from the scene showed the ferry overturned in the Mediterranean, with passengers wearing life jackets floating nearby or clinging to the exposed hull.
Survivors were taken back to Kyrenia, where emergency medical teams assessed and treated them.
Ferry encountered severe weather
The ferry reportedly ran into severe weather about 15 minutes after leaving Kyrenia. Its crew communicated that the vessel was taking on water before it overturned.
The precise cause of the disaster has not yet been established, and authorities are expected to investigate the condition of the ferry and the circumstances under which it left port.
The vessel was operated by the shipping company Filo Denizcilik, according to Turkish media.
Northern Cyprus is controlled by Turkish Cypriots but is recognised as an independent state only by Turkey.
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