Eight confirmed 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 ferry 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 involving Turkish authorities is ongoing. The ferry has now sunk, and efforts are being made to recover its black box recorder to determine the cause of the accident. The privately owned ferry departed Kyrenia around 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT) and was scheduled to travel to Turkey on Saturday but was delayed due to poor weather conditions. Üstel stated that the vessel was struck by two waves before capsizing, with the captain attempting to recover from the first wave when the second wave hit. Helicopters and coastguard boats have been dispatched to the scene, and ambulances are on standby at the beach for rescued passengers. 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 Turkish Cypriots and confirmed that search and rescue operations are ongoing. Mustafa Koc, who rescued around 65 people, criticized the decision to set sail in choppy seas, stating that the crew should have waited for calmer conditions. The ferry, a high-speed 40-meter long, 10-meter 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 the relatives of passengers, though the nationalities of those on board and the status of the injured remain unclear. Local media reported that the ship has completely sunk by Sunday evening.