Eight people were killed and 18 are missing following a ferry accident off the coast of Cyprus
At least eight people were killed and 18 are missing following a ferry accident off the northern coast of Cyprus. A total of 267 people were on board—259 passengers and 8 crew members—of whom 241 were rescued.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the area of the port of Kyrenia in the unrecognized Northern Cyprus. Aircraft, drones, helicopters equipped with night-vision devices, coast guard boats, and military ships have been deployed for the operation, combing the area throughout the night.
Turkey is providing military equipment for the search. The ship’s captain and the rest of the crew have been detained for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation into the causes of the tragedy.
A three-day period of mourning has been declared in unrecognized Northern Cyprus, lasting from Monday, August 31, until the evening of September 2.
This was reported by Kathimerini.
The vessel began taking on water and capsized on Sunday, August 30, near Kyrenia. The survivors clung to the capsized hull of the ferry. They were rescued by passing ships and coast guard personnel.
The Turkish ambassador in Nicosia stated that 172 people were rescued. Some of the survivors were taken to hospitals.
