A ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, according to Turkish media reports.
The catamaran-style ferry was en route from Kyrenia, also known as Girne, in the Turkish-controlled northern part of ethnically divided Cyprus, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province.
Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Basceri said there were casualties in the incident but did not provide a specific number while speaking to Turkey’s state-run TRT television.
Basceri said many of the 259 passengers and eight crew members had been rescued, with some taken to hospitals for treatment.
Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul said the ferry, operated by Filo Denizcilik, sank off Diana beach along the northern coast of Cyprus.
According to TRT, the vessel began taking on water about 7.5 kilometers (4 nautical miles) off the coast.
Video footage from the scene showed people wearing life jackets floating in the water around the capsized ferry.