Passenger Ferry Sinks Off Northern Cyprus, Killing at Least 6

A high-speed passenger ferry carrying about 270 passengers and crew sank today (Sunday) off the coast of Northern Cyprus after it began taking on water for reasons that are still unknown. Numerous search-and-rescue teams were dispatched to the scene, and in recent hours, some passengers have been rescued and brought ashore.

The prime minister of Northern Cyprus said that seven people were killed in the sinking off the northern part of the country. He said so in an interview with Turkey's CNN network. According to a Northern Cyprus minister, it is still not possible at this stage to provide a final number of casualties, as rescue and search operations continue in the area.

According to reports in Cypriot-Turkish media outlets, the vessel is a FiloJet model and is owned by the company Filo Denizcilik. The fiberglass ship can carry up to 346 passengers. At the time of the incident, early reports said there were about 270 passengers and crew members aboard.

The incident occurred about four nautical miles from the city of Kyrenia. After reports of the vessel's condition were received, numerous boats were sent to the area to assist with rescue operations. Passenger vessels operated by other companies arrived at the scene, along with private yachts and passenger boats docked at the nearby harbor.

Kyrenia Mayor Murat Şenkul said that contact has so far been made with 159 passengers. Some of the people aboard the vessel have already been rescued from the water and started arriving ashore, while rescue teams continued operating at the scene. Initial reports did not provide complete information about the number of injured people, and the overall scope of the casualties has not yet been determined.