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At least one person died after a passenger ferry carrying 267 people took on water and capsized off Girne (Kyrenia) on Sunday, prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving Turkish Cypriot authorities, the Coast Guard, Turkish naval vessels and civilian boats.
The Filo Denizcilik-operated catamaran was traveling from Girne to Mersin’s Tasucu Port with 259 passengers and eight crew members when the incident occurred.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Unal Ustel confirmed there were fatalities, while Public Works and Transportation Minister Erhan Arikli earlier told TGRT Haber that one passenger had died but said he could not provide a definitive casualty figure.
Rescued passengers and injured people were being brought to Girne Port before being transferred to hospitals across the TRNC.
Ustel said the ferry had initially been scheduled to travel to Türkiye on Saturday, but the journey was postponed because of weather conditions.
“The ship was supposed to go to Türkiye yesterday, but it went today because of the weather conditions. The first wave hit at sea, and while the captain was trying to save the ship, it began taking on water with the second wave,” Ustel said.
Earlier reports said the captain noticed water entering from the rear section of the vessel and attempted to return toward Girne but was unsuccessful.
The ferry had departed Girne Port at around 12:30 p.m.
Ihlas News Agency (IHA) reported that the catamaran sank about 2.5 kilometers off the Girne coast. The TRNC Security Forces Command separately said the Girne-Tasucu passenger vessel had listed about 8 kilometers from Girne Port.
Authorities are investigating the factors that caused the vessel to capsize.
The TRNC Security Forces Command said all available resources had been mobilized after authorities received the emergency report.
The Security Forces Command, Coast Guard Command, Civil Defense Organization and Police General Directorate were responding with maritime and air units, according to an official information note.
Turkish Navy vessels operating in the region were also participating alongside Coast Guard units in the search-and-rescue operation.
A crisis desk was established in the TRNC to coordinate the response.
Ustel said members of the public also rushed to assist.
“Everyone with a boat came to help. Our health teams are ready, and we have made every preparation,” he said.
Fishing boats and other vessels in the area were seen heading toward the ferry to help with rescue operations.
Witnesses earlier said some passengers jumped into the sea after the ship began taking on water.
Arikli said injured passengers rescued by Coast Guard and search-and-rescue teams were being brought to Girne Port and would be transferred to different hospitals depending on their condition.
A large number of ambulances were dispatched to the area.
The TRNC Health Ministry said all necessary preparations had been completed at the port as well as at public and private hospitals to ensure rapid medical treatment.
“Maximum human resources have been mobilized to respond rapidly to possible needs, and all preparations have been completed for health teams that will serve at the port and hospitals,” the ministry said.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said Türkiye was closely following the incident and providing all necessary assistance to the search-and-rescue effort.
“We are closely following this unfortunate incident and providing every kind of support to the search-and-rescue efforts,” Yilmaz said.
Rescue operations continued as authorities worked to determine the cause of the incident.
Details to follow...
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