A passenger ferry capsized early Sunday afternoon shortly after departing Kyrenia for the Turkish port of Tasucu, authorities said.
The vessel overturned about two kilometres (1.2 miles) off the coast of Kyrenia, prompting Turkish Cypriot coastguard boats to deploy to the scene. A rescue helicopter was sent as backup, while other boats also set out from Kyrenia to assist in the operation.
Kyrenia mayor Murat Senkul later said 270 passengers and crew had been aboard the ferry and described the situation as “serious”.
