A ferry capsized in northern Cyprus this Sunday (30), leaving at least seven dead and 23 missing. The vessel, a catamaran with approximately 270 passengers and crew, capsized in the Eastern Mediterranean near Kyrenia, one of the main tourist areas in the region.
The ferry had departed from Kyrenia port around 12:30 p.m. local time, bound for Tasucu in the Turkish province of Mersin. Shortly after departure, the vessel began taking on water for reasons still unknown and ended up capsizing. Some survivors clung to the hull of the vessel, which remained partially submerged.
According to Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, 237 people were rescued alive from the sea. Another seven were recovered dead and 23 are still considered missing.
The maritime route between Kyrenia and Turkey is one of the daily links connecting the northern region of Cyprus to the Turkish mainland, being widely used by tourists and residents.
