Kyrenia, August 30 (TNA) A passenger ferry travelling from Kyrenia to the Turkish port of Taşucu capsized off northern Cyprus on Sunday after reportedly taking on water shortly after departure. Local media said the boat overturned around two kilometres off the Kyrenia coast, and emergency teams rushed to the area as panic spread among passengers and rescuers.
Kyrenia mayor Murat Şenkul said around 270 people were on board, while some reports put the number at 258 passengers and crew combined. He said rescuers had already reached 159 people, though officials had not immediately confirmed the total number of rescued passengers.
Turkish Cypriot coastguard vessels were sent first, and a rescue helicopter was deployed as backup. Several boats from Kyrenia harbour also sailed out to support the operation, while ambulances were reportedly dispatched to the scene.
The incident was described by local officials as serious, with rescue crews working to bring survivors safely back to shore. At the time of reporting, there was no confirmed casualty count and no immediate explanation for why the ferry capsized.