A ferry carrying nearly 270 people capsized off northern Cyprus on Sunday, with at least seven reported killed and dozens rescued as search and rescue efforts continued.
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Key facts
- A ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus.
- At least seven people were killed, according to the BBC.
- Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said 172 people had been rescued.
- Al Jazeera reported 89 people remained missing, while later BBC reporting cited 23 missing.
- A search and rescue operation was under way after the vessel turned over on leaving port.
A ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus on Sunday, prompting a large search and rescue operation, according to multiple news outlets.
Al Jazeera reported that the vessel, described as a catamaran, was carrying around 260 people when it capsized off the Cyprus coast. Early reports from Turkish Cypriot officials indicated at least one person had died, a figure that rose as the day progressed.
The region’s prime minister, Ünal Üstel, told the state-run TRT news channel that more than 172 people had been rescued, the Guardian reported. Al Jazeera cited Üstel as saying 172 people had been rescued and 89 remained missing.
A local mayor said early in the day that 159 passengers had been reached while a rescue operation was under way, according to the BBC. Later BBC reporting put the death toll at seven, with 23 people missing, after the ferry turned over having left port.
The Guardian reported that at least six people had died and that many of the passengers and crew had been rescued, citing local media. Figures for the dead, rescued and missing varied between outlets as the situation developed through the day.
Reporting on the incident drew on statements from Turkish Cypriot officials and local media. The full circumstances of the capsizing, including its cause, were not detailed in the available reports.
Why it matters
A capsizing involving nearly 270 people represents a major maritime emergency with a significant loss of life. The scale of the rescue operation and the number of people still unaccounted for underscore the risks faced by passengers on crowded vessels.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were on board the ferry?
Reports said the vessel was carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew, with Al Jazeera describing around 260 people on board.
How many people died and how many were rescued?
The BBC reported at least seven people were killed, while the Guardian cited at least six deaths. Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said 172 people had been rescued.
How many people were still missing?
Al Jazeera cited Üstel as saying 89 people remained missing, while later BBC reporting put the number of missing at 23.
Timeline
- Rescuers search for 18 missing after boat capsizes off Northern Cyprus
Al Jazeera: The captain and crew of the ferry have been brought before a judge and placed under formal arrest.
- Seven killed and 23 missing in boat capsizing off northern Cyprus
BBC World: A search and rescue operation is under way after a ferry carrying nearly 270 people turns over after leaving port.
- Six dead after ferry carrying nearly 270 capsizes off northern Cyprus
The Guardian World: Many of the passengers and crew are reported to have been rescued, say local media At least six people have died after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, local media reported. More than 172 people have been
- Boat carrying some 270 people capsizes off northern Cyprus
BBC World: A local mayor says 159 passengers have been reached so far, with a rescue operation under way.
- Ferry carrying 260 people capsizes off coast of northern Cyprus
Al Jazeera: A catamaran carrying around 260 people has capsized off the Cyprus coast.
- Ferry with more than people 260 on board capsizes off northern Cyprus
Al Jazeera: At least one person has died after incident off coast of northern Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot official says.
- At least six people die after ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus
Al Jazeera: Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Unal Ustel says 172 people rescued and 89 people remained missing.