Northern Cyprus Arrests 9 After Ferry Capsizes, Leaving 8 Dead and 20 Missing
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Aug 31
Northern Cyprus Arrests 9 After Ferry Capsizes, Leaving 8 Dead and 20 Missing
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 31
Summary
Twenty people, including two children from one Turkish family, remained missing after the ferry sank off Northern Cyprus on Sunday; 19 survivors were being treated in hospital.
Rough seas appear central to the disaster: officials said two waves struck the vessel, eyewitnesses described a violent jolt and the bow bursting open, and the crossing had already been delayed a day by storms.
Nine men — the eight crew members including the captain and one other man — were formally arrested Monday for three days as investigators seek the ferry's black box recorder.
The privately operated ferry had 259 passengers and eight crew aboard on the Kyrenia-to-Tasucu route; the wreck now lies 514 meters deep.
Northern Cyprus has begun three days of national mourning, and a Turkish ship is due Tuesday to reinforce the search and recovery effort.