7 dead after ferry carrying 260 passengers capsizes off Cyprus, officials say
The ferry was traveling to Turkey when the incident occurred.
LONDON -- A ferry carrying more than 260 people capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the northern coast of Cyprus on Sunday, local officials said, with at least seven people reported killed.
Search and rescue operations were underway to find 23 missing people, Unal Ustel, the prime minister of the self-declared territory of Northern Cyprus, said in a post to social media.
So far, Ustel said, 237 people have been rescued. "Our utmost priority at this moment is to reach the 23 missing individuals as soon as possible," Ustel wrote.
Turkey's Interior Ministry said the passenger ship FILOJET was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members.
The ferry was traveling from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, in the breakaway north of divided Cyprus to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province.
The Turkish Interior Ministry said that four Northern Cyprus coast guard vessels and a passenger ship were deployed to the area, along with five Turkish Coast Guard Command vessels and two helicopters.
Six Turkish navy vessels were also dispatched to the area, the ministry said. "Search and rescue operations are being meticulously carried out in coordination among the relevant units," it added.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News' Rashid Haddou contributed to this report.
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