Survivors are taken to shore after a boat capsizes in Kyrenia, northern Cyprus on August 30, 2026 in this screengrab taken from a video [Reuters]By Al Jazeera Staff and AnadoluPublished On 30 Aug 202630 Aug 2026
At least one person has died after a boat with more than 260 people on board capsized off North Cyprus on Sunday, Turkish Cypriot media reported.
The catamaran-style vessel had left the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, and started sinking a few kilometres off the coast on Sunday.
Turkish Cypriot Transport Minister Erhan Arikli told Turkish state news agency Anadolu that one passenger had died after the ferry capsized.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minsiter Unal Ustel said that 267 people had been on board the vessel when it capsized, while around 100 had been evacuated by rescuers.
Arikli told Anadolu that a rescue operation was under way to bring any injured people to Girne Port and then transfer them to local hospitals.
Arikli added that the cause of the incident would be investigated.
Images broadcast by Turkish television showed the upside-down ferry in the water, with people wearing life vests atop its orange hull. The weather was sunny and several boats were seen in the area to lend assistance.
“All necessary preparations are being made for a swift response from rescue and health services,” the Turkish Cypriot health ministry said in a statement.
It added that hospitals in the territory had been alerted, so they could provide any medical attention that might be needed.
