Seven people have died and 23 remain missing following the sinking of a vessel off the coast of Kyrenia, while 237 of the 267 people on board have been rescued, Turkish Cypriot authorities said.
Turkish Cypriot “prime minister” Ünal Üstel announced that 237 of the 267 people aboard had been rescued, while seven had been recovered dead and 23 remained missing.
Speaking to the Turkish Cypriot broadcaster BRT, Üstel said the ferry had been travelling from Kyrenia to Taşucu in southern Turkey and sent an SOS call requesting assistance 15 to 20 minutes after leaving Kyrenia harbour.
According to confirmed information received so far, there were 259 passengers and eight crew members on board, making a total of 267 people, he said.
Üstel said the search was being conducted on the widest possible scale with Turkey’s support, using both air and sea assets, in an effort to locate the 23 missing people.
Search and rescue operation continues
Earlier, a “crisis management office” established to coordinate the operation met under Üstel, with the participation of Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman.
According to a statement from Üstel’s office, it was decided that search and rescue operations would continue without interruption, with all available resources mobilised.
The authorities also agreed that the treatment of those injured would be closely monitored and that all “state institutions” would continue to operate in full coordination.
The search for the missing people remains ongoing.
