A serious maritime incident has been reported in the Mediterranean, where a passenger boat traveling from Northern Cyprus to Turkey has capsized. According to Turkish Cypriot media reports, around 300 people were on board, while a major search-and-rescue operation has been launched in the area.
What is known so far
The boat had departed from Kyrenia and was sailing toward the Turkish port of Taşucu when, according to reports, it began taking on water. Authorities in Northern Cyprus later said the vessel capsized in open waters.
According to Turkish Cypriot media, there were approximately 300 people on board. Meanwhile, a minister in the Northern Cyprus government spoke of the evacuation of around 260 passengers, leaving the exact number of people involved in the incident unclear at this stage of the operation.
Official statements and questions over the toll
Erhan Arıklı, the Minister of Public Works of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, told Turkish state television that the boat had capsized and that teams were working to pull passengers out.
He also said the sea was rough and that the priority for authorities remained getting the passengers ashore without loss of life. As of these reports, no verified toll of survivors, injured people or missing persons had been made public.
The operation at sea and resources deployed
Coast Guard vessels, helicopters and civilian boats that were near the area of the incident have been involved in the operation. Images released from the scene show at least one helicopter above the capsized boat, while searches continue in difficult sea conditions.
Vessel-tracking data show the craft was seen north of Kyrenia on Sunday morning before its position signal was interrupted. Another ferry appears to have headed toward the area to help and was later seen approaching Kyrenia port.
Scenes from the port and videos online
Live broadcasts from Kyrenia showed people arriving at the port while ambulance sirens could be heard in the background. Several ambulances were seen lined up in the area, indicating a high level of readiness to receive survivors.
In videos circulating on social media and claimed to be linked to the incident, the boat can be seen leaning to one side in rough seas. Some people wearing life jackets appear to be pulled from the water, while others are still seen at sea.
The true scale of the incident remains unclear, while information is coming mainly from authorities and local media in real time.
Until a full and verified toll is available, the focus remains on rescuing the people on board and clarifying the exact number of passengers involved.