Kyrenia, August 31 (TNA) A ferry carrying about 267 to 270 people capsized off the northern coast of Cyprus on Sunday, leaving at least eight dead and 18 missing, according to reports from the Turkish Cypriot authorities. Rescue teams have pulled most passengers from the water, while the vessel later sank after taking on water near Kyrenia.
The ferry, identified in reports as Filo Jet or Filojet, had left Kyrenia and was heading to Turkey when it began taking on water a few miles off the coast. Officials said the captain and seven crew members have been detained for questioning, and divers from Turkey have joined the search operation.
Authorities said 241 to 241-plus people were rescued, though the exact figure varied across reports as the operation continued through Sunday. Some passengers were found clinging to the overturned hull before the ship went under, and ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
The cause of the capsize was not immediately clear, though one report cited claims that the vessel had been struck by waves before the accident. Search teams are still looking for the missing, and officials described the incident as one of the most serious maritime disasters in the region in recent years.