By Open Chronicle with agencies
Department: World | Maritime
Seven people have died and 237 passengers and crew members have been rescued after a passenger ship travelling between Northern Cyprus and Türkiye capsized, triggering a large scale search and rescue operation in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sunday that Türkiye had mobilized all available state resources following the disaster and was working closely with authorities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as teams continued searching for those still missing.
The vessel had been sailing from Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus to Taşucu, in Türkiye’s Mersin province, when it capsized.
237 Passengers and Crew Rescued
Erdoğan said emergency operations began immediately after authorities were informed of the accident.
Working alongside Turkish Cypriot authorities, rescue teams were able to bring 237 passengers and crew members to safety.
Seven people were confirmed dead.
The Turkish president said operations to locate the remaining missing people were continuing without interruption, although the information released so far did not specify how many people remained unaccounted for.
Erdoğan expressed hope that rescuers would receive positive news as the operation continued.
A passenger ferry capsized off the northern coast of Cyprus shortly after departing for Turkey, with 270 people on board.
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Türkiye Mobilizes State Resources
The Turkish government said the response involved extensive coordination between Türkiye and Northern Cyprus.
Erdoğan said Ankara was closely following developments and had mobilized the resources of the Turkish state to support the operation.
He also offered condolences to the families of those killed and expressed solidarity with the survivors and the Turkish Cypriot community.
The scale of the rescue, with more than 200 people brought to safety, has become the central focus of the emergency response as authorities continue searching the surrounding waters.
Political Leaders Respond to Disaster
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş expressed condolences to the families of the victims and said he hoped the continuing operation would successfully locate the remaining passengers and crew.
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz described the rescue of 237 people as the country’s “greatest consolation” following the disaster.
He thanked Turkish and Turkish Cypriot search and rescue personnel involved in the operation and expressed hope that those still missing would be found alive.
Türkiye’s Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also confirmed that operations in the area were continuing without interruption.
Search Continues
Authorities have not yet provided detailed information about what caused the vessel to capsize.
The immediate priority remains the search for missing passengers and crew, while further investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The maritime route between Kyrenia and Türkiye’s southern coast provides an important passenger connection across the eastern Mediterranean.
With seven deaths already confirmed, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot authorities remain focused on locating those still missing as the rescue operation continues.