At least eight people have died and 18 remain missing after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of Northern Cyprus on Sunday, triggering a major search-and-rescue operation.
The privately operated catamaran was carrying 267 people – 259 passengers and eight crew members – when it began taking on water shortly after leaving Kyrenia, also known as Girne in Northern Cyprus, for the Turkish port of Taşucu in the South of the country.
The latest reports say 241 people have been rescued, while the search for those still unaccounted for is continuing. Earlier casualty figures were lower as rescuers brought more survivors ashore and recovered additional bodies.
Turkish and Turkish Cypriot authorities deployed coast guard vessels, helicopters and naval units to search the waters. The ferry eventually sank in waters around 514 meters deep, complicating recovery operations.
The cause of the accident remains unclear. The vessel reportedly began taking on water several kilometers from Kyrenia, shortly after departure. Some survivors have described unusual movements before the ferry capsized, but authorities have warned against speculation while the investigation continues.
The captain and members of the crew have been detained as part of the investigation. Search-and-rescue operations remain underway, and the death and missing-person figures could change.