Seven dead after ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus
A passenger ferry carrying 267 people capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus, leaving at least seven dead and 23 missing, with rescue operations ongoing.
At least seven people have died after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus, triggering a large-scale rescue operation. The vessel, a catamaran-style boat, was travelling from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, to the Turkish port of Tasucu when it overturned on Sunday, local media reported.
The ferry was carrying 267 passengers and crew, according to officials from the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said 237 people had been rescued, while search and rescue operations were under way to locate the 23 people still missing, which he described as the “utmost priority”. Earlier reports had put the death toll at six, but later updates confirmed seven fatalities.
Üstel described the incident as a “tragic shipwreck” in a post on X, and said rescue teams were working to find those unaccounted for. The region’s authorities have not yet provided details on the cause of the capsizing, though the vessel was reported to be a catamaran-style ferry operating a regular route between northern Cyprus and southern Turkey.
The accident occurred near Kyrenia, a coastal city in northern Cyprus that is a popular destination for tourists and a hub for ferry connections to the Turkish mainland. The port of Tasucu, the ferry’s destination, lies on Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast, and the route is commonly used by both locals and visitors.
Local media reported that many of the passengers and crew had been rescued, with the operation involving multiple vessels and emergency teams. The exact circumstances of the capsizing remain unclear, and authorities have not yet released a full list of those on board or confirmed the nationalities of the victims.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of passenger ferry services in the eastern Mediterranean, where such vessels are a vital link for communities and economies. Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey, relies heavily on maritime connections to the Turkish mainland for trade, travel, and supply chains.
Rescue efforts were continuing as of Sunday evening, with officials saying the priority was to locate the missing. The death toll could still change as the operation progresses, and authorities have promised further updates once more information becomes available.
