Tragedy Strikes: Ferry with Nearly 270 Aboard Capsizes Near Northern Cyprus

POLICY WIRE — Bodrum, Turkey — A ferry transporting close to 270 individuals, including passengers and crew, overturned near the northern coast of Cyprus on Sunday, according to Turkish media sources.

The vessel, a catamaran-style ferry, was en route from Kyrenia, also referred to as Girne in the self-declared northern part of Cyprus, to the Turkish harbor of Tasucu located in Mersin province.

Ali Murat Basceri, the Turkish ambassador to Nicosia, confirmed that there were fatalities but did not disclose the exact number during an interview with Turkey’s state-run TRT news channel.

Out of the 259 passengers and eight crew members, a significant number were saved, with some requiring hospitalization, as stated by Basceri.

Murat Senkul, the Mayor of Kyrenia, revealed that the ship was operated by Filo Denizcilik ferry company and submerged near Diana beach on the northern coastline of Cyprus.

Reports from TRT indicate that the ferry began to take on water approximately 7.5 kilometers (4 nautical miles) from the shore.

Footage from the incident site displays individuals wearing life-vests drifting in the waters surrounding the overturned ferry.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)