Ferry carrying 267 passengers sinks off Cyprus coast, 1 dead

A ferry carrying 267 passengers sank off the northern coast of Cyprus on Sunday (August 30), leaving at least one person dead, according to Al Jazeera, citing Turkish media.

The catamaran-type ferry began sinking several kilometres off the coast after departing from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne. Turkish Cypriot Transport Minister Erhan Arıklı confirmed that one passenger died in the incident.

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said 267 people were on board when the ferry overturned. Rescue teams managed to evacuate around 100 passengers, while efforts to rescue others, including injured passengers, were continuing.

The rescued passengers will be taken to the port before being transferred to local hospitals, Üstel said. He added that an investigation would be launched to determine the cause of the accident.

Television footage showed the orange-coloured ferry overturned in the water, with several passengers wearing life jackets. Weather conditions were reportedly sunny, while several vessels were seen near the site assisting with the rescue operation.

The Turkish Cypriot Health Ministry said necessary preparations were being made to ensure a rapid response from rescue and medical teams. Hospitals in the region were also instructed to prepare for the treatment of injured passengers.