Kathmandu— Rescue operations are ongoing in Northern Cyprus following the capsizing of a ferry on Sunday. The incident resulted in the deaths of eight people, with 241 rescued and 18 still listed as missing. The ferry had departed from Girne (Kyrenia) heading to Turkey when it encountered difficulties around midday local time. The captain and crew have been formally arrested and brought before a judge.

Rescue Operation Details

The rescue operation began immediately after the ferry capsized, with multiple boats and divers from both Northern Cyprus and Turkey assisting in the search for survivors. Rescuer Muhammed Ozcelik, who runs a water sports company, described the harrowing scene: 'We tried to do more than we could. People were saying, “Take me too, take me too,” but the capacity was full.' Survivors reported that some passengers had to jump into the sea without life jackets or buoys.

Survivor Accounts

Passengers recounted their experiences of the capsizing. Efe Multici told CNN Turk, 'Some people had to jump without lifebuoys or life jackets. It was literally a fight for survival.' Serkan Kunduraci, who escaped through a broken window, witnessed children and others drowning in the sea 7.5km off the coast: 'I saw some who didn’t know how to swim die in the sea,' he told DHA news agency.

Investigation Underway

The investigation into the cause of the capsizing is ongoing, with authorities emphasizing that recovering the ferry’s black box data recorder will be crucial. The vessel lies on the seabed at a depth exceeding 500 meters, complicating recovery efforts. Survivors mentioned hearing an explosion and noted insufficient safety equipment aboard.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.