Ferry with 267 sank off northern Cyprus; 8 dead, 17 missing; Captain and 7 crew members arrested | Today’s news
At least eight people have died and 18 are still missing after a passenger ferry carrying about 267 people capsized and sank off the coast of Northern Cyprus on Sunday (August 30th), triggering a major search and rescue operation.
The privately run ferry FILOJET was traveling from Kyrenia to the Turkish port of Tasucu in the Eastern Mediterranean when it started taking on water shortly after leaving port.
Authorities said 241 people had been rescued, although initial reports varied on the number of missing.
The ferry capsized shortly after leaving the port
The ferry left Kyrenia at around 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT) and was about 6.5 kilometers (four miles) offshore when the disaster occurred.
According to survivors, the vessel began to move erratically before apparently hitting the water hard.
“The vessel was moving very badly. It was constantly rising out of the water and falling back down. It was shaking violently,” survivor Efe Multici told CNN Turk.
“Three or four minutes later, the ferry jumped high into the air and then came crashing down. The front left side tore open and water started pouring out.”
Survivors report a possible explosion
Several rescued passengers told local media that they heard or witnessed what appeared to be an explosion near the bow before the ferry overturned.
One passenger told Turkish Cypriot television: “The front exploded, they tried to turn around. And the side windows flew out. The boat started taking on water.”
Another survivor said he warned the captain about water leaking into the vessel.
“The seats started to float, the captain kept going and the bow exploded,” the passenger said.
Some survivors also claimed that there were not enough life jackets and passengers were forced to jump into the water.
“Some people had to jump without life rings or life jackets,” Multici said. “It was literally a fight for survival.
The cause of the incident has not yet been determined.
Captain, crew members detained
Northern Cyprus authorities said the ferry’s captain and seven crew members were detained for questioning after the disaster.
The vessel later sank completely and came to rest on the seabed at a depth of approximately 514 meters (1,686 ft).
Turkish authorities said additional resources, including naval vessels and helicopters, had been dispatched to support rescue efforts.
A major search and rescue operation
Four Turkish coast guard vessels and one civilian passenger boat were deployed to the scene, while Turkey sent five coast guard vessels and two helicopters.
Turkey’s interior ministry also said six Turkish navy ships had been dispatched.
“The search and rescue efforts will continue until the very end until all the people are reached,” Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman told reporters after a crisis management meeting.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
“Efforts to reach those who are still missing continue without interruption,” Erdogan said. “God willing, we hope to receive positive news from these efforts.”
Weather conditions under the microscope
The incident occurred a day after strong storms hit Cyprus, having already caused a fatal marine accident in the south-east of the island.
Erhurman acknowledged the storm but said the weather on Sunday was considered suitable for ferry travel.
“There’s a great sense of shock. We’ve never experienced this before,” he said.
The disaster sent shockwaves across Northern Cyprus, with relatives gathering outside hospitals and the port of Kyrenia as they waited for information about the missing passengers.
The ferry operated one of the regular sea services connecting Northern Cyprus with Turkey. The territory, formally known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is internationally recognized only by Turkey.
The search for the missing passengers continues, with Turkish divers expected to assist authorities as efforts focus on reaching those who remain missing.
