Ferry with 267 people on board has sunk off the coast of Cyprus

The accident must have happened shortly after the ferry left Cypriot Kyrenia, two kilometers off the coast, according to the Cyprus Mail. The Turkish Cypriot coast guard has sent boats and a helicopter to the scene.

The boat was on its way to Mersin in Turkey and reportedly started taking on water about six and a half kilometers off the coast, according to Northern Cyprus' Transport Minister Erhan Arikli.

267 people are said to have been on board. Of them, 159 managed to be rescued by 2:30 p.m. local time, Kyrenia's mayor Murat Senkul tells Cyprus Mail.

The ferry is almost completely underwater

Videos published in Turkish-Cypriot media show how the ferry is almost completely submerged under water. Many passengers remain on the hull, which is still above the surface.

Images also show several passengers sitting in boats leaving the scene.

There are no reports of serious injuries.