A passenger ferry overturned off the coast of Kyrenia on Sunday afternoon shortly after leaving the city’s port, with deaths and injuries reported following the incident, according to Turkish Cypriot media.
Ali Murat Başçeri, the Turkish ambassador in the occupied areas, said there had been fatalities, without giving a specific number.
“We are very saddened, there are fatalities, we are very saddened, there are injured people. We are at the scene with all our resources. We will inform the public in detail moment by moment,” Başçeri said.
The vessel, the passenger ferry Express owned by Filo Jet, was about two kilometres from Kyrenia port when it overturned. According to Turkish Cypriot website Kıbrıs Postası, the incident occurred about three nautical miles off Kyrenia, with 267 people on board.
Ambulances from the Turkish Cypriot authorities have been placed on standby to receive and transport those rescued.
The so-called Kyrenia mayor Murat Şenkul told CNN Türk that 159 passengers had already been located and rescued. Around 100 passengers had not yet been accounted for at the time of the latest update. This does not mean they are considered dead or officially missing, as many are believed to be in the sea wearing life jackets and the rescue operation is continuing.
Following the incident, three “Coast Guard” vessels and three private boats were mobilised.
Initial reports indicate that the vessel was a catamaran. Claims have been made that the material used in its construction may not have been suitable for maritime use. Reports also stated that the vessel was old and that its fibreglass structure suffered serious damage, causing it to split in two quickly.
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Passenger ferry carrying 279 people overturns off Kyrenia coast
