Passenger Ship Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus Coast, Multiple Casualties Reported

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a passenger ship carrying approximately 270 passengers and crew capsized on Sunday off the coast of Northern Cyprus, as reported by the Mehr News Agency, citing the Associated Press.

The catamaran-style passenger vessel was en route from the port of Kyrenia, known as Girne in the Turkish-speaking northern part of the ethnically divided island, to Tasucu port in Turkey’s Mersin province.

Ali Murat Başçeri, Turkey’s ambassador to Nicosia, stated that the incident resulted in fatalities, though he did not specify the number of casualties.

Başçeri confirmed that most of the 259 passengers and eight crew members on board were rescued, adding that some individuals were transported to the hospital.

Murat Şenkul, the mayor of Kyrenia, identified the vessel as belonging to the Philo Denizcilik shipping company and reported that it sank near Diana Beach on the northern coast of Cyprus.

The ship experienced flooding approximately 7.5 kilometers (4 nautical miles) offshore, according to TRT network.

Video footage from the scene shows individuals in life vests floating in the water surrounding the capsized vessel.