At least seven dead after ferry carrying nearly 270 people capsizes off northern Cyprus with rescue op under way
Rescue helicopters and coastguard vessels rush to the scene where a capsized ferry carrying 270 people left 99 unaccounted for off northern Cyprus.Survivors in lifejackets were seen sitting atop the upturned orange hull as nearby boats joined the coastguard response four miles off the Kyrenia coast.
A catamaran passenger ferry named Express capsized in rough seas roughly four miles off the coast of Kyrenia in northern Cyprus on Sunday afternoon, with around 99 people still unaccounted for. The vessel had departed Kyrenia at around 12.30pm bound for the Turkish port of Tasucu when it began taking on water and overturned. Kyrenia mayor Murat Senkul called the situation "very serious" as coastguard boats, private vessels and at least one rescue helicopter rushed to the scene. Northern Cyprus transport minister Erhan Arikli confirmed the ship turned fully upside down, with footage showing survivors in life vests clinging to the orange hull.
Senkul stated that 159 of the 258 passengers on board had been reached by rescuers.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said he was 'deeply saddened', confirming TRNC and Turkish coastguard units were operating 'without interruption'.
Arikli warned the sea was 'quite rough', complicating efforts, adding: 'Our priority is to bring our passengers to land without loss of life.'
