At least six people have died after a ferry carrying 267 passengers and crew capsized off Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus on Sunday.
The head of the local administration, Ünal Üstel, confirmed the preliminary death toll to Turkish media, saying 172 people had been rescued as search and rescue operations continued.
The ferry overturned shortly after leaving the port of Kyrenia for Taşucu in southern Turkey.
The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia, Ali Murat Başçeri, also confirmed that there had been fatalities but did not give a figure. He said the large majority of the 259 passengers on board had been rescued.
Images broadcast by Turkish television showed the ferry lying upside down in the water, with some passengers wearing life jackets and sitting on top of its orange hull.
Several boats, aircraft and rescue rafts were deployed to the area to assist in the operation.
The weather was reported to be sunny at the time of the rescue operation, although authorities had not immediately established what caused the vessel to capsize.
The Turkish Vice President, Cevdet Yılmaz, said Turkey was providing all necessary assistance to the search and rescue efforts.
“All necessary preparations are being made for a swift response from rescue and health services,” the health ministry of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said in a statement.
The ministry said hospitals across the territory had been alerted and were prepared to provide medical treatment to rescued passengers who might need it.
Northern Cyprus, officially known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is recognised only by Turkey. It controls the northern third of the island of Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974.
Turkey has maintained close political and economic ties with the territory, which is served by regular air and sea links to Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is scheduled to visit Northern Cyprus on Monday to meet its president, Tufan Erhürman. The visit will be Erdoğan’s first to the territory since 2023.
