Eight dead and 23 missing after ferry sinks off Cyprus
Eight dead and 23 missing after ferry sinks off Cyprus
At least eight people died and 23 remained missing after a passenger ferry capsized north of Kyrenia while travelling toward Turkey.
A passenger ferry carrying 270 people capsized about two kilometres north of Kyrenia in the early hours of Sunday while travelling to Tasucu, Turkey. Officials confirmed eight deaths, 23 people missing and 237 rescued.
Turkish Cypriot coastguard vessels and a search-and-rescue helicopter were deployed. The vessel was described as a Turkish-flagged Filo Jet catamaran measuring more than 40 metres long and 10 metres wide.
Turkey's Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said Turkish and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus coastguard units and other agencies were continuing uninterrupted rescue operations. He said finding the passengers and crew was the immediate priority and that Turkey was providing all possible support. The cause of the sinking was not established in the report.
L.Garrido--GM
