At least six people have died after a high-speed ferry capsized while traveling from Kyrenia in northern Cyprus to Tasucu in southern Turkey, according to the Anadolu news agency, which cited Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Unal Ustel.
The ferry, known as Filojet, was carrying around 267 people, including 259 passengers and eight crew members. As of mid-afternoon, 172 individuals had been successfully rescued and brought to safety, Anadolu reported.
Coastguard boats from the Turkish Cypriot authorities were sent to the scene, along with a rescue helicopter for additional support.
Ustel and Erhan Arikli, the transport minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, went to Kyrenia to supervise the recovery efforts, according to a local newspaper.
Arikli mentioned to Turkish broadcaster NTV, “We don’t know what caused the vessel to take on water.” He stated that the ferry began to fill with water approximately 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) off the coast of Kyrenia.