Ferry capsizes off Kyrenia: seven dead, 23 missing
A ferry with 259 people on board capsized several kilometres north of Kyrenia, leading to at least seven fatalities and 23 missing. Rescue teams managed to save 237 passengers, while search-and-rescue operations continue. Officials report that the cause of the accident remains unclear, though weather conditions were stable at the time.
A passenger ferry carrying 259 people capsized several kilometres north of Kyrenia on Sunday, killing at least seven and leaving 23 unaccounted for, Turkish Cypriot 'prime minister' Unal Ustel told Turkish public broadcaster TRT.
The vessel departed Kyrenia's new port shortly after midday and issued a mayday call at 12:10 p.m., reporting it was taking on water roughly three miles from the Cypriot coast, according to Turkish ambassador in Nicosia Ali Murat Basceri. Rescue teams brought 237 passengers ashore by late afternoon.
"Our top priority right now is to reach the 23 missing people as soon as possible," Ustel said.
The ferry sank to a depth of 500 metres approximately two kilometres north of Kyrenia, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman confirmed. "The ship sank to a depth of 500 metres, making work … difficult," Erhurman told reporters.
Weather conditions on Sunday were described as stable despite storms in the region the previous day. Erhurman cautioned against speculation regarding the cause of the capsizing, noting that "generally, the weather conditions were not bad today."
The incident triggered a large-scale search-and-rescue operation involving Turkish Cypriot coastguard boats, a rescue helicopter, and multiple vessels dispatched from Kyrenia. Ustel and the north's 'transport minister' Erhan Arikli travelled to Kyrenia to oversee the recovery operation.
All planned events in Kyrenia to mark Turkey's Victory Day, commemorating the 1922 Battle of Dumlupinar, were cancelled as authorities focused on the emergency response. The anniversary typically draws large crowds and official ceremonies across the region.
Basceri confirmed "losses of life" and said that "a large number of people have been brought ashore" since the rescue began. He provided the initial timeline of the mayday call and the vessel's reported position when it began taking on water.
Arikli confirmed the ferry began taking on water approximately four miles, or six and a half kilometres, from the Kyrenia coast. He travelled to Kyrenia alongside Ustel to supervise rescue efforts, according to official reports.
The north's 'health ministry' deployed a fleet of ambulances to the passenger terminal at Kyrenia's new port in anticipation of survivors being brought ashore. In a statement, the ministry said "all necessary preparations have been made to ensure that health services can be provided quickly" to those rescued from the sea. Medical teams remained on standby throughout the afternoon, treating survivors as they arrived.
The Lapithos, Karavas, and Myrtou municipality, known collectively as the Lac municipality, advised residents and visitors to refrain from entering the sea due to "irregular movements" off the coast linked to the ongoing emergency response. Municipal authorities attributed the warning to the concentration of search-and-rescue craft and unpredictable currents created by the operation.
Erhurman confirmed that support for the search-and-rescue operation had been requested from Turkey. He did not comment on an offer of assistance from Larnaca's joint rescue and coordination centre.
"All of our state's institutions are on the ground. We are carrying out search and rescue operations with great care and closely monitoring developments," Ustel said. Both Ustel and Arikli were present at the scene to direct efforts and receive updates from rescue teams.
The precise cause of the incident has not been officially determined. Authorities have urged against premature conclusions as the investigation begins.
The identities of the victims have not been released. Authorities have not provided details on the nationalities of those on board.
As of late Sunday afternoon, the search for the 23 missing passengers continued, involving both surface and aerial assets. The status of any international assistance, including the offer from Larnaca's joint rescue and coordination centre, remained unclear.
The confirmed figures from officials: 259 passengers departed from Kyrenia's new port, 237 have been brought ashore, seven are dead, and 23 remain missing as search-and-rescue operations continue off the north coast of Cyprus.
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