Shipwreck off Northern Cyprus: At least seven dead

At least seven people have died in a ship accident off the northern Cypriot coast. A passenger ferry got into distress and capsized. According to the government, there were 267 people on board, including 259 passengers and eight crew members.

According to broadcaster CNN Türk, emergency services are trying to get to 24 people who are apparently still in the catamaran. More than 230 people were brought to safety by rescue workers, said the head of government of the Turkish Cypriot northern part of the island, Ünal Üstel. Some of them were taken to the hospital.

Accident shortly after departure

According to authorities, the ship capsized shortly after leaving the port city of Kyrenia. It was on the way to Mersin in southern Turkey. According to Northern Cypriot Transport Minister Erhan Arıklı, water entered the ferry. An emergency call was made fifteen minutes after departure.

Video footage showed people in life jackets floating in the water around the capsized ship. Some had saved themselves on the hull of the ferry. A helicopter circled overhead.

Shared island

Cyprus has been divided since Turkey occupied the north of the island in 1974. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot northern part declared its independence, but is only recognized as a state by Turkey. The Greek-speaking Republic of Cyprus in the southern part of the island has been an EU member since 2004.