Nicosia, September 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The death toll rose to eight after a Turkish ferry capsized and sank off the northern coast of Cyprus, with rescuers continuing their search for 18 people still missing, Turkish Cypriot authorities said.
The double-hulled ferry was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when it began taking on water and capsized shortly after leaving the port of Kyrenia on Sunday afternoon. Authorities said 241 people had been rescued by Monday.
The vessel later sank to a depth of more than 500 metres below the sea surface. It remains unclear whether anyone was trapped inside, although footage circulated on social media reportedly appeared to show people still inside one of the ferry’s compartments when it sank.
Turkey is sending a deep-sea remotely operated vehicle to assist the search operation. The equipment is expected to reach the accident site on Tuesday.
Turkish Cypriot authorities have arrested the captain and seven crew members. Local media reported that the ferry had previously undergone repairs related to water leaks.
Some survivors reportedly alleged that the captain and crew were among the first to leave the vessel and that passengers were not provided with adequate evacuation instructions.
Cyprus was hit by severe storms on Saturday, and rough sea conditions persisted on Sunday. However, Turkish Cypriot authorities said conditions had been considered suitable for the ferry to sail to Tasucu, a Turkish port located about 120 km north of Kyrenia.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Earlier this year, at least 15 people were killed after a passenger ferry sank in Sudan’s River Nile State. According to Sudanese civil defence officials, the vessel capsized amid high waves. Eight people survived, while several others were reported missing.
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