Boat with around 270 people on board capsizes off North Cyprus

Search and rescue is underway

Local outlet, Cyprus Mail reported that the passenger ferry capsized on Sunday afternoon (30 August) after leaving Kyrenia in the de facto state of Northern Cyprus, for the Turkish port of Tasucu.

The Turkish Cypriot coastguard have been deployed to the scene while a rescue helicopter is also in attendance, as per the outlet.

Not long after the incident, Turkish Cypriot Kyrenia mayor Murat Senkul confirmed that there were a total of 270 people on board the boat.

He said that the situation was "serious".

Senkul released a statement on Facebook which read: "The passenger ship Diana Beach, belonging to the fleet, has sunk in the waters off the coast.

"There are a total of 270 people on board, including passengers and crew.

"The situation is very serious.

"Coastal security is participating in numerous small boat rescue operations with Akgün Express ship.

"Please refrain from sharing information that may cause pollution."

Videos online have shown the extent of the situation as the ferry lies capsized with people in life vests holding on.