Authorities have detained the captain and seven crew members following a maritime disaster off the coast of Northern Cyprus that left at least eight people dead and 18 others missing. The incident occurred on Sunday when a catamaran-style ferry, carrying 270 people, capsized just a few kilometres from the coastal city of Kyrenia—known as Girne in Turkish—shortly after its 12:30 p.m. local time departure.
Northern Cyprus President Tufan Erhurman described the tragedy as the worst maritime disaster in the island’s history. According to official figures, 241 of the 267 passengers and crew on board have been rescued. The vessel is currently submerged at a depth of approximately 514 metres (1,690 feet).
Transport Minister Erhan Arikli stated that his ministry is launching an investigation parallel to the police probe. He noted that passengers have raised serious allegations against the crew, including claims that the vessel’s doors were locked and that the captain abandoned the ship. Other survivors reported that the ferry began taking on water shortly after leaving port and that crew members ignored early warnings from those on board.
A massive search and rescue operation is currently underway, involving the Northern Cyprus coastguard command, which has deployed passenger ships, five pilotage units, and two helicopters. Turkish naval forces have also contributed six additional units to the effort. Resul Serdar. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences, confirming that his country has mobilized all available resources to assist in the rescue mission.
The government of the Republic of Cyprus has also offered support, with spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis stating that Nicosia is prepared to provide immediate assistance, emphasizing that the protection of human life remains the primary priority. The Northern Cyprus Ministry of Health confirmed that local hospitals have been placed on alert to provide urgent medical care to survivors.
Television footage from the scene showed the vessel overturned in the water, with survivors wearing life vests visible on the orange hull. While the weather was reported as sunny, the investigation into why the vessel began taking on water remains the focus of authorities. The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which occupies less than a third of the island, is currently the only entity recognizing the jurisdiction of the investigation in the northern territory. The report also notes that the catamaran-style vessel left the city known as Kyrenia in Greek and Girne in Turkish at 12:30pm local time (09:30 GMT) on Sunday and began sinking a few kilometres off the coast. The report also notes that and several boats were seen in the area to lend assistance, the weather was sunny. The report also notes that “All necessary preparations are being made for a swift response from rescue and health services,” Northern Cyprus’s Ministry of Health said in a statement.
