A passenger ferry carrying 267 people sank after taking on water about 4 miles (6.44 kilometers) off the coast of Girne (Kyrenia) in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday afternoon, prompting a large-scale rescue operation, according to TRNC Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı.
The catamaran-type passenger vessel had departed Girne for Mersin’s Taşucu when it began taking on water shortly after departure, Arıklı said in remarks to TRT Haber.
The vessel later capsized, while TRNC Coast Guard and Civil Defense teams were dispatched to the scene. Coast Guard boats, helicopters and civilian boats and vessels in the area are taking part in the rescue operation as passengers are evacuated and transferred to safer locations.
Arıklı said Coast Guard teams reached the scene approximately 15 to 20 minutes after receiving the report.
Another passenger vessel that had been waiting at Girne Port was also dispatched to the accident site and began taking passengers aboard. Other vessels in the area were mobilized to assist with the evacuation.
Arıklı said authorities had not yet determined the cause of the accident, noting that sea conditions in the area were particularly rough.
“It is too early to say anything definite at this point, but the sea is quite rough. We will determine how the incident occurred following the investigation. Our priority is to get our passengers ashore,” he said.
TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel later said the vessel was carrying 267 people, including 259 passengers and eight crew members, and that the ship had been scheduled to travel to Türkiye the previous day but departed on Sunday due to weather conditions.
Üstel said the vessel was hit by a first wave and that, while the captain was attempting to regain control, a second wave caused it to take on water.
Authorities are preparing for the arrival of evacuated passengers at Girne Port, where ambulances are standing by.
Civil Defense teams are also setting up a medical treatment tent at the port to provide first aid to passengers. Those requiring further medical attention will be transferred to hospitals, Arıklı said.
“We have taken all necessary precautions on the shore. Our ambulances are standing by,” he said.
Arıklı later said there were both seriously injured passengers and those in stable condition among those rescued. He said authorities knew there had been fatalities but initially could not provide a death toll.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Lefkoşa (Nicosia) Ali Murat Başçeri also confirmed that there were fatalities, saying that the majority of the 259 passengers had been rescued.
TRNC Prime Minister Üstel later said 237 people had been rescued and 7 people had died, while search-and-rescue operations were continuing.
The TRNC Interior Ministry said five Coast Guard vessels and two Coast Guard helicopters had been dispatched to the area, while the Turkish Naval Forces Command assigned 6 naval assets to support the rescue operation. The passenger vessel AKGÜNLER 3 was also deployed to assist with the evacuation.
Arıklı added that rescue teams were working intensively to continue the operation and bring those still missing ashore.
Further details are expected as the rescue operation continues.
