A rescue operation is underway in the Mediterranean after a passenger boat heading from Northern Cyprus to Turkey capsized, local media reported.
There were nearly 300 people on board the vessel, according to Turkish Cypriot media.
Erhan Arikli, the public works minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, told Turkish state television that the vessel had set out from Kyrenia and was heading to the Turkish port of Taşucu when it started to take on water.
“Unfortunately, the ship is now upside down. Work continues for the evacuation of approximately 260 passengers,” Arikli said.
Coast Guard boats, helicopters and civilian boats in the area are involved in rescue efforts, he added. Video from the scene showed at least one helicopter hovering above the capsized vessel.
“The sea is quite rough,” Arikli said. “Our priority is to bring our passengers to land without loss of life.”
The vessel was seen north of Kyrenia on Sunday morning, according to MarineTraffic tracking data, before transmissions of its position ceased.
Another ferry appears to have traveled to the accident scene to rescue people on board. It was last shown about to enter Kyrenia port.
A live stream from Kyrenia showed people who had reached the port and the sound of ambulance sirens. Several ambulances were shown lined up at the harbor.
Purported video of the capsized ship shows it on its side in choppy seas, with people wearing life jackets being picked up by rescuers and others in life jackets in the water.
