Search continues for 18 passengers after ferry capsized in northern Cyprus

Rescuers continue to search for 18 passengers after a ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday. The vessel, which was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members, began taking on water shortly after departing Kyrenia in the self‑declared Turkish Republic of Cyprus. Authorities have confirmed eight fatalities, while 19 injured individuals are receiving treatment in hospitals across the region. The ship’s captain, seven crew members and one additional man were arrested on Monday, and warrants have been issued for a further seven individuals. Ünal Üstel, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus—a state recognized only by Turkey—declared a three‑day period of national mourning. Officials report that the ferry has fully sunk and now rests on the seabed at a depth of 514 meters (1,686 feet). Debris, including a white wheelie suitcase floating on the surface and a sheet of metal that appears to have detached from the hull, is scattered across the water. Investigators are attempting to recover the vessel’s black‑box recorder to determine the cause of the accident. The privately owned ferry left the popular holiday resort of Kyrenia at approximately 12:30 (09:30 GMT), en route to Tasucu, Turkey. Its departure had been postponed from Saturday because of adverse weather conditions. According to Üstel, speaking to local media, “The vessel was hit by 2 waves earlier it capsized.” He added, “While the captain of the vessel was trying to recover from the first wave, a second wave hit and it began taking on water, he said.”