The captain and seven crew of a passenger boat that capsized near northern Cyprus have been taken into custody, the local leader says
According to Cypriot and Turkish media, the death toll has risen to eight, as emergency services continue to search for missing passengers
Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, says search and rescue operations will continue "uninterrupted" until all victims are found
There were 267 people on the boat when it capsized, according to Üstel, and in an earlier update he said 237 had been rescued, although the current figure is unclear
The boat left from the northern Cypriot port of Kyrenia at 11:58 local time (09:58 BST) and officials say it capsized around four nautical miles into its journey to Turkey
Cyprus has been physically divided since Turkey's 1974 invasion, with UN soldiers patrolling a buffer zone known as the Green Line
The death toll has now risen to eight, the transport minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has said, according to Cypriot and Turkish media.
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesMembers of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
The vessel capsized just off the coast of northern Cyprus, which is run by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) - a self-declared state which is recognised only by Turkey.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup on the island which was backed by the Greek government.
The island was effectively partitioned, with the northern third run by a Turkish Cypriot government and the southern two-thirds by the internationally-recognised government led by Greek Cypriots.
United Nations troops have since patrolled a buffer zone - also called the "Green Line" - dividing the two parts, and reunification talks have made slow progress.
The buffer zone extends approximately 180km across the island. In some parts it is only a few meters wide, while in other areas it is a few kilometres wide, according to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
There are several villages within the zone, where more than 10,000 people live and work, according to the UN.
Ünal Üstel says several aircraft, including helicopters and drones, as well as Turkish Armed Forces vessels are involved in the ongoing search and rescue following the incident.
The search will continue "uninterrupted" until all victims of the capsizing are found, Üstel, the prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, says.
After announcing the crew were taken into custody, we says it is the responsibility of officials to "fully illuminate" what happened in the marine tragedy.
The captain of the vessel that capsized and seven crew members have been taken into custody, according to the leader of the Turkish-occupied region.
In a lengthy statement on Facebook, written in Turkish, Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, says "every aspect" of the incident will be investigated.
The latest images from the scene show the emergency response following the capsizing of the passenger vessel off the coast of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus.
A Turkish military plane, military helicopters and other boats have been carrying out search and rescue efforts.
Northern Cyprus's self-declared prime minister said in a statement earlier multiple agencies were coordinating as part of the response, with 23 people still missing.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesThe self-declared prime minister of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus earlier said the boat capsized after being hit by two waves, according to comments reported in Turkish national media.
"The vessel was supposed to travel to Turkey yesterday but departed today due to weather conditions," TRT reported Ünal Üstel as saying.
"However, it was hit by a first wave at sea, and while the captain was trying to recover, the vessel began taking on water after a second wave hit."
Image source, Getty ImagesTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says efforts to reach survivors from the capsized vessel "continue uninterrupted".
The vessel was travelling from Kyrenia in northern Cyprus to Tasucu in Turkey.
The Turkish president offered his "condolences and best wishes for a speedy recovery to our nation and to the Turkish Cypriot people".
"Immediately after the accident, we launched extensive search-and-rescue operations in co-operation with the authorities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," Erdogan says while attending a military ceremony.
"As a result of these efforts, 237 passengers and crew members were rescued safely, while unfortunately, seven of our brothers and sisters lost their lives. God willing, we hope to receive positive news from these efforts," he says.
For context: The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is controlled by and only recognised by Turkey.
Katy Watson
BBC correspondent
Ferry travel is pretty common in this part of the Mediterranean - for commercial transport, leisure and daily life.
There are multiple routes and various forms - some high speed, like this ship appeared to be.
Other boats are slower, some car ferries, others purely passenger, so the fact that this has happened will shock people who are so used to using this mode of transport.
But it’ll also be disruptive in a region that relies on boat transport - in peak summer season too.
Investigations no doubt will be carried out to understand how this could have happened.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersThe below image from the Reuters new agency shows the catamaran-type Filo Jet vessel that capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus earlier today.
The news agency says these pictures were taken on 3 September 2024 off Turkey.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Marine Traffic reports the passenger boat left the northern Cypriot port of Kyrenia at 11:58 local time (09:58 BST) on Sunday. It was due to arrive at Tasucu in Turkey at 17:52 local time (15:52 BST).
The company which operates the capsized passenger boat says it is "deeply saddened by the tragic accident".
Filo Denizcilik says after the vessel, named Filo Jet, capsized it mobilised resources to co-ordinate with search and rescue teams.
The company says a hotline has been set up to provide passengers' relatives with information.
Image source, Northern Cyprus authoritiesOfficials in northern Cyprus have met to discuss their response to the boat capsizing off the coast of Kyrenia.
Ünal Üstel, leader of the Turkish-occupied part of northen Cyprus, says "all necessary resources have been mobilised" to carry out rescue efforts.
In a post on Facebook, Üstel says he was briefed about ongoing search and rescue efforts, the status of those missing, the situation on the ground and the status of those meeting.
The "priority right now is human life", Ustal says, adding that security forces, search and rescue teams as well as health officials are all on the ground and in "full coordination".
He says the crisis management team will continue its work and official information will be shared with the public.
As we just reported, the prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus says in a post on X that seven people have died.
Here's his statement in full:
"We are closely monitoring the process moment by moment through the Crisis Desk we established following the tragic shipwreck that occurred off the coast of Girne.
"Out of the total 267 people on board the ship, 237 have been rescued by our teams. Unfortunately, seven individuals have lost their lives. Our search and rescue operations to locate the 23 missing persons continue without interruption, with all our resources mobilised.
"I offer my condolences from Allah for those who have passed away, and wish patience and strength to their families and loved ones. I pray for a swift recovery for the injured.
"Our utmost priority at this moment is to reach the 23 missing individuals as soon as possible.
"All institutions of our state are on the ground. We are continuing the search and rescue efforts with the utmost care and closely following developments.
"We will continue to share confirmed information with the public."
We've now heard from Ünal Üstel - the prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - on X.
He says seven individuals have died.
"Out of the total 267 people on board the ship, 237 have been rescued by our teams. Unfortunately, seven individuals have lost their lives. Our search and rescue operations to locate the 23 missing persons continue without interruption, with all our resources mobilised," he writes.
He says the priority is reaching the 23 missing.
The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is controlled by and only recognised by Turkey.
Passengers stand on capsized Cyprus ferry ahead of rescue
Footage of the incident appears to show dozens of passengers sat on the top of the boat wearing life jackets.
Whistles can be heard in the background of the footage while several smaller vessels can be seen nearby.
Image source, AFP
Image source, AFPKaty Watson
BBC correspondent
In all there were 259 passengers on board along with eight crew members - and while many have been rescued, there’s still a considerable search and rescue operation under way.
The Turkish Interior Ministry says it’s sent both boats and helicopters to help find survivors and those who have been rescued are being taken to local hospitals.
Footage from the scene shows the boat on its side with passengers standing on top in life jackets.
Image source, Reuters