Northern Cyprus ferry disaster: captain and crew face charges

The captain and seven crew members of a ferry that sank off the coast of Northern Cyprus over the weekend appeared in court on August 31, along with the director of the operating company.

The suspects, who are in custody, have been charged with causing death by negligence following the deaths of eight people in incident, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Judge Hazal Hatsimulla said 16 people were expected to be called to give evidence.

The ferry was travelling from Kyrenia, known as Girne in Türkiye, to Mersin in southern Türkiye. There were 267 people on board, including 259 passengers and eight crew members.

Water entered the vessel shortly after it left port, causing it to sink. According to reports, 239 people have been rescued, including two Azerbaijani nationals.

Eight people died, while the search for those still missing is continuing.

Nearly 20 people remain missing after a ferry capsized off northern Cyprus, with at least eight people confirmed dead.

The double-hulled ferry, carrying 267 people, overturned shortly after leaving Kyrenia for the Turkish port of Taşucu on August 29. Survivors were rescued by passing vessels and coastguard teams.

The vessel is now lying on the seabed at a depth of more than 500 metres. Divers from Türkiye have joined the search for missing passengers.

By Aghakazim Guliyev