Eight dead and 18 missing after ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus

At least eight people have died and 18 others are still missing after a passenger boat capsized off northern Cyprus, according to Ünal Üstel, the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The ferry was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when it began taking on water after departing from the coastal town of Kyrenia on Sunday. The ship's captain and seven crew members have been detained as part of an investigation into the incident. Officials report that the majority of those on board have been rescued, and a search and rescue operation is ongoing with Turkish authorities. The boat has since sunk, and efforts are underway to recover its black box recorder to determine the cause of the capsizing. The ferry left Kyrenia at approximately 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT) and was scheduled to travel to Turkey on Saturday, but was delayed due to poor weather. Üstel stated that the boat was hit by two waves before capsizing, leading to it taking on water. Helicopters and coastguard boats have been deployed to the scene, and ambulances are on standby at the beach. Üstel emphasized that the priority is human life and that a thorough investigation will be conducted to uncover any negligence. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed condolences to the Turkish Cypriots and noted that search efforts for the missing continue. Mustafa Koc, who rescued around 65 people, criticized the decision to set sail in choppy conditions. The ferry, a high-speed 40m long, 10m wide vessel named Filo Jet, operates under the Turkish flag. The operating company, Filo Denizcilik, expressed deep sadness over the accident. A hotline has been established for relatives of the passengers, but the nationalities of those aboard and the status of the injured remain unclear. Local media reported that the ship has completely sunk by Sunday evening.