BODRUM, Turkey — Not less than seven folks have died after a ferry carrying almost 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, Turkish media reported.
Some 237 folks have been rescued, Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel informed Turkish state-run TRT information channel. He stated a search was underway for an additional 24 folks.
Ustel stated the ferry confronted adversarial climate circumstances and started taking in water simply quarter-hour after departure. A name for assist was issued shortly after, he stated.
The catamaran-style ferry was touring from the port of Kyrenia, also called Girne, within the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province.
Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul stated the ship belonged to the Filo Denizcilik ferry firm and sank off the coast of Diana seashore on Cyprus’ northern coast.
The ferry began taking in water about 7.5 kilometers (4 nautical miles) off the coast, TRT reported.
Video footage from the scene reveals folks with life-vests floating within the waters across the capsized vessel.
