Deep-water rescue boat due in Cyprus after ferry capsizes off Kyrenia

Kyrenia, Cyprus. A deep-water search and rescue boat is due to arrive in Cyprus on Tuesday to assist efforts to locate 18 people missing after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of Kyrenia, Turkish Cypriot ‘deputy prime minister’ Fikri Ataoglu said on Sunday night.

The ferry, carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members, capsized shortly after departing Kyrenia’s new port at around 12.10pm en route to the Turkish port of Tasucu.

Search operation continues

Ataoglu said the deep-water vessel will be used in the search for the 18 people still unaccounted for. The ferry sank to a depth of 514 metres below the sea surface.

The north’s Tak news agency reported that 13 boats and two helicopters would operate throughout the night in an effort to locate those missing.

As of 9pm, 241 people had been brought ashore alive, eight had been confirmed dead and 18 remained unaccounted for.

Flights rerouted

Helicopters operating north of Kyrenia have led passenger flights departing the north’s Ercan (Tymbou) airport to reroute over the southern part of Nicosia instead of following their usual route north over Kyrenia towards Turkey.

Residents in the southern half of the capital have consequently been able to see and hear low-flying passenger aircraft.

Crew arrested

The ship’s captain and the seven other crew members have all been arrested.