BODRUM, Turkey (AP) — At least eight people have died after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus on Sunday, Turkish media reported.
Unal Ustel, the north's Turkish Cypriot prime minister, told Turkish state broadcaster TRT that 237 people have so far been rescued. A search is underway for another 22 people, officials said.
Ustel said the ferry faced adverse weather
conditions and began taking on water just 15 minutes after departure. A call for help was issued shortly after, he said. Police detained eight people — including the ferry captain — as part of an investigation into the sinking, according to Ustel.
Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said weather conditions “were not bad” and urged against speculating about the cause of the accident. He said the vessel went down in waters 500 meters (1,640 feet) deep, encumbering search efforts.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his condolences and said his government was coordinating with Northern Cyprus in the search and rescue effort.
“We hope we’ll be receiving positive news,” Erdogan said on Sunday in Ankara while speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Turkish Military Academy.
The catamaran-style ferry was traveling from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, 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 7.5 kilometers (4 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.
Cyprus was split along ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkish invaded a few days after an Athens junta-backed coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkish Cypriots declared independence in 1983, but only Turkey recognizes the north where it maintains more than 35,000 troops.
Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, but only the Greek Cypriot south — where the internationally recognized government is seated — enjoys full benefits.
Cyprus government Constantinos Letymbiotis said in a post on X Sunday that the government had expressed its readiness to assist in search and rescue efforts with all available means.
“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,” Letymbiotis said.
“At such times, the protection of human life is paramount.”
