At least eight people have died and 18 remain missing after a ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, prompting a major search and rescue operation. Survivors claim the captain ignored warnings that the ferry was taking on water before abandoning ship as it capsized.
The captain, seven crew members, and a shareholder in the ferry company were arrested and appeared in court on Monday as part of an investigation into the incident. Authorities are also seeking to recover the vessel's black box recorder.
The privately owned, double-hulled ferry was carrying 267 people when it took on water and flipped over shortly after departing from Kyrenia, a port city in northern Cyprus. The vessel had been scheduled to travel to Tasucu, Turkey, but its departure was delayed from Saturday due to poor weather conditions.
According to Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, the ferry was struck by one wave, followed by a second, as the captain attempted to regain control. This caused the vessel to begin taking on water. Survivors recounted hearing a blast from the ship's bow before it began to capsize, leading to passengers jumping into the sea, many without life jackets, which were reported to be in short supply.
One rescued passenger described the front of the boat as having "exploded" and side windows blowing out as water flooded the vessel. He stated that the captain was among the first to abandon the ship. Other rescued passengers corroborated accounts of a blast at the bow before the ferry rolled over.
Footage from inside the stricken vessel captured chaotic scenes as passengers scrambled through its interior amidst screams and cries. Some survivors were seen clinging to each other in the choppy sea alongside the partially submerged ferry, while others attempted to pull people from the ship. A rescue helicopter was observed overhead.
By late afternoon on Sunday, the ferry had sunk and was resting on the seabed at a depth of over 500 meters (approximately 1,640 feet). Divers from Turkey have joined the search efforts for any remaining survivors. Officials have provided differing estimates for the number of missing individuals, with figures ranging from 18 to 19.
Families of passengers gathered at the port, anxiously awaiting news. Naif Ezer, whose friends were on board, said they had been waiting for over 12 hours. Some waited in silence, while others sought updates on their mobile phones. The former President of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, met with families at the port entrance.