Rescue underway after Turkish ferry carrying hundreds of people capsizes off Cyprus

By Tim Lister, Oliver Sherwood, CNN

(CNN) — A rescue operation is underway in the Mediterranean after a passenger boat carrying nearly 270 people heading from Northern Cyprus to Turkey capsized, killing at least six people.

The Prime Minister of the Turkish republic of northern Cyprus, Ünal Üstel, told Turkish media that 172 people had been rescued from the ship, and search and rescue efforts were continuing.

The Filo Jet was carrying 259 passengers and 8 crew members from Kyrenia to Taşucu in southern Turkey when it began taking on water just a few miles from the Cyprus coast, according to the Interior Ministry.

Video from the scene of the ship’s capsizing showed dozens of people on the side of the vessel and others in life-jackets in the water.

The speaker of the Turkish parliament Numan Kurtulmuş, said in post on X that he extended his condolences to those who had lost their lives in “this exceedingly tragic incident.”

Four coastguard vessels from northern Cyprus and a passenger vessel took part in rescue operations, the Interior Ministry said, as well as two coastguard helicopters to the area.

Video from the scene showed at least one helicopter hovering above the capsized vessel.

The vessel was seen north of Kyrenia on Sunday morning, according to MarineTraffic tracking data, before transmissions of its position ceased.

A live stream from Kyrenia showed people who had reached the port by helicopter and on rescue boats – amid the sound of ambulance sirens. Several ambulances were shown lined up at the harbor.

Video of the capsized ship shows it on its side in choppy seas, with people wearing life jackets being picked up by rescuers and others in life jackets in the water.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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