Ferry captain arrested over Kyrenia sinking as death toll rises to eight

The captain of the ferry which sank off the coast of Kyrenia was arrested on Sunday evening, Turkish Cypriot 'prime minister' Unal Ustel said, describing the incident, which has thus far caused eight confirmed deaths, "the worst maritime disaster Cyprus has ever experienced".

He confirmed that the captain and the eight other crew members who were on board the boat when it set sail from Kyrenia had all been arrested, stressing that "every aspect of this incident will be investigated" and that "even the slightest negligence will be uncovered".

"It is both the duty and the responsibility of our state to fully investigate this great tragedy … Our grief is immense today, but our state, with all its institutions, is fulfilling its duty," he said.

As such, he said, "we are now focused with all our strength on reaching our missing loved ones, healing our wounds, and uncovering the full truth of this great tragedy".

On this front, he said that "from the moment the accident occurred, all the resources of our state were mobilised", before explaining that the "initial response" comprised four Turkish Cypriot coastguard boats, one patrol vessel, and one Turkish naval assault boat. Those boats were complemented by diving teams from the Turkish Cypriot civil defence and police.

The north's 'transport minister' Erhan Arikli said on Sunday evening that a total of eight people are now confirmed to have died as a result of the sinking. Rescuers are still attempting to locate 17 people who remain unaccounted for, with the remaining 242 people who were on board the boat when it set sail from Kyrenia at midday now having been successfully brought ashore.

The ferry capsized several kilometres north of Kyrenia earlier on Sunday. It sank to a depth of 500 metres roughly two kilometres north of the port, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman confirmed. "The ship sank to a depth of 500 metres, making work … difficult," Erhurman told reporters.

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. Basceri confirmed "losses of life" and said that "a large number of people have been brought ashore" since the rescue began.

Crew locked passengers in as Kyrenia ferry sank, survivors allege

Zya Cafe: Where Coffee Meets Luxury in Cyprus

Arikli said 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 oversee the recovery operation.

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.

Storms had passed through the region on Saturday, but Erhurman cautioned against speculation over the cause of the capsizing, noting that "generally, the weather conditions were not bad today." The cause has not been officially determined.

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.

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.

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 identities of the victims have not been released, and authorities have not provided details on the nationalities of those on board.

Of the 259 people who left Kyrenia's new port at midday, 242 have been brought ashore, eight have been confirmed dead, and the search for the 17 still missing off the north coast of Cyprus was continuing on Sunday night.