At least eight dead after boat with around 270 people on board capsizes off Cyprus coast as captain arrested

You are about to be charged £0.00* *Your gift has been applied Thank you for subscribing! At least eight dead after boat with around 270 people on board capsizes off Cyprus coast as captain arrested GB News understands 99 passengers are still unaccounted for Don't Miss Most Read At least eight people have been confirmed dead after a passenger boat with around 270 people on board capsized off northern Cyprus on Sunday. Authorities have launched a rescue mission involving a helicopter and other boats, which remains ongoing. The privately owned ferry had departed from Kyrenia at 12:30pm local time and was en route to the Turkish port of Tasucu when it immediately began taking on water for an unknown reason. The mayor of the town of Kyrenia, Murat Senkul, told local media that 159 of the 258 passengers on board the vessel had been rescued. He described the incident as "very serious" and urged people not to speculate on the cause. GB News understands 99 people are still unaccounted for. Photos show the rescued passengers arriving back at Girne Port, where ambulances were dispatched to take some survivors to hospital. A medical tent has also been set up at the Kyrenia port. The Turkish Cypriot authorities have detained the ship's captain and seven crew members. Video footage showed people in red life jackets sitting or standing on top of the overturned vessel |KIBRIS POSTASI The vessel, which was a catamaran, is said to have begun taking in water about four miles off the shore. Both passengers and crew were on board. Civilian boats are said to have been drafted in to help rescue the passengers. Video footage showed people in red life jackets sitting or standing on top of the overturned vessel, and debris has also been seen floating in the water. Ovber 150 passengers on board the vessel had been reached |REUTERS LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Authorities have launched a rescue mission, which remains ongoing |REUTERS Sea conditions in the region were reportedly severe and rough. The exact cause of the accident would be clarified after investigations, ministers have said. GB News has approached the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ministry of Public Works and Transport for further comment. Kyrenia, also known by its Turkish name, Girne, is a historic port city renowned for its picturesque horseshoe-shaped harbour and Byzantine castle. Ambulances have been dispatched to the scene |REUTERS The vessel was a catamaran |REUTERS The city operates as a major market centre and coastal resort under the de facto administration of northern Cyprus - an unrecognised country occupying the northern third of Cyprus since 1974. In a separate incident yesterday, a storm and rough seas caused three boats to hit rocks and sink off Cyprus on Saturday, leaving one person dead and six others rescued. A man was pulled unconscious from the sea by a rescue helicopter near Cape Greco on the island's southeastern coast and was later pronounced dead, while two of the survivors were treated in hospital. Heavy rain and strong winds swept across the Mediterranean island on Saturday, flooding streets, triggering landslides and toppling trees. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter