Ferry carrying 260 people capsizes off coast of northern Cyprus

What the report says

A ferry-style catamaran carrying more than 260 people capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing Turkish Cypriot media and officials. The vessel had departed from Kyrenia, also known as Girne, and began sinking a few kilometres offshore. Authorities said the passengers were on board when the boat overturned in the Mediterranean waters near the northern part of the island.

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Unal Ustel said 267 people were aboard, while Turkish Cypriot Transport Minister Erhan Arikli told Anadolu that one passenger had died. Officials said rescuers had evacuated around 100 people and were working to bring any injured survivors to Girne Port before transferring them to local hospitals. Arikli said the cause of the incident would be investigated.

Images shown on Turkish television appeared to capture the ferry upside down in the water, with people in life vests standing on the orange hull. The weather was reported to be sunny, and several boats were seen nearby helping with the response. The Turkish Cypriot health ministry said hospitals in the territory had been alerted and that emergency preparations were under way. The incident is significant because it involved a large passenger vessel and prompted a major search-and-rescue response, with the final toll and cause still under review.