Rescue operations are underway in the Mediterranean Sea after a passenger ship carrying about 270 people heading from northern Cyprus to Turkey capsized, killing at least six people.
Ünal Uster, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, told Turkish media that 172 people had been rescued from the ship and search and rescue operations were continuing.
The interior ministry said the Philojet was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members from Kyrenia to Tashk in southern Turkey when it launched just a few miles off the coast of Cyprus.
Video from the scene of the ship capsizing showed dozens of people on the side of the ship, as well as people wearing life jackets in the water.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said in a post on X that he expressed his condolences to those who lost their lives in “this extremely tragic incident.”
The interior ministry said four vessels and a passenger boat from the northern Cyprus coast guard took part in the rescue operation, and two coast guard helicopters were also dispatched to the scene.
Video from the scene showed at least one helicopter hovering over the capsized ship.
According to MarineTraffic tracking data, the ship was spotted north of Kyrenia on Sunday morning before location transmissions stopped.
A livestream from Kyrenia showed people arriving at the port by helicopter and rescue boat as ambulance sirens blared. Several ambulances were seen lined up at the port.
Video of the capsized ship shows people wearing life jackets being pulled out by rescue workers as the ship is tipped over on its side in rough seas, and people wearing life jackets in the water.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
