- Nearly 20 people are still missing after a ferry capsized, killing at least eight, as divers join search teams scouring deep waters for any survivors.
- The double-hulled ferry with 267 people onboard took in water and flipped over on Sunday just off the port city of Kyrenia, leaving survivors clinging to the upturned hull.
- Divers from Turkey were assisting the search, officials said, and they gave differing estimates of the number of missing, with some saying 19 and others 18.
- It was unclear if people remained trapped on the vessel, now lying on the seabed at a depth of more than 500 metres (1,640ft).
- The ferry ran into trouble shortly after leaving Kyrenia for the Turkish port of Taşucu in Mersin province, one of several daily sea shuttle links between Turkish-occupied northern and mainland Turkey.
- Separate accounts said the wide-bodied vessel jolted violently before slamming on to the sea surface, with part of its bow bursting open on impact.
- Naif Ezer, one of those waiting anxiously outside the port, said, “We’ve been waiting since the morning, for 12 hours or maybe more,” and added that of three friends travelling home, one had been found but the other two were still missing.
Nearly 20 people are still missing after a ferry capsized off northern Cyprus, resulting in at least eight fatalities. The incident occurred shortly after the double-hulled ferry departed from Kyrenia, bound for the Turkish port of Taşucu in Mersin province.126
Witnesses reported that the ferry, which had 267 passengers onboard, jolted violently before slamming onto the sea surface, causing part of its bow to burst open. Survivors were seen clinging to the upturned hull as the vessel flipped over, leaving many trapped inside.
Search efforts have intensified, with divers from Turkey joining local teams to scour the deep waters where the ferry now lies at a depth of over 500 meters (1,640 feet). Officials have provided varying estimates of the missing, with some stating 19 and others 18. Authorities have detained the captain and crew for questioning as investigations into the incident continue.34
Naif Ezer, a friend of one of the missing passengers, expressed his anguish, stating, “We’ve been waiting since the morning, for 12 hours or maybe more.” The search for survivors continues as families anxiously await news of their loved ones.
“The double-hulled ferry with 267 people onboard took in water and flipped over on Sunday just off Kyrenia, leaving survivors clinging to the upturned hull. Turkish divers are assisting, though officials give differing missing counts of 18 or 19, and it remains unclear if anyone is trapped on the vessel lying 500 metres deep.”
The Guardian
