At least eight people have died and more than a dozen others remain missing after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus. The incident occurred shortly after the vessel departed the coastal town of Kyrenia.

The ferry, named Filo Jet, was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when it began taking on water. The ship had been scheduled to travel to Turkey on Saturday but was delayed due to poor weather conditions. Officials stated the vessel was hit by two waves before it capsized.

Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish republic on Cyprus, announced the fatalities and confirmed the ongoing search and rescue operation. "The priority right now is human life," Üstel stated on social media, adding that security forces, rescue teams, and health officials were at the scene. The captain and seven crew members have been detained as part of an investigation into the incident.

Turkish authorities, along with rescue helicopters and coastguard boats, have been dispatched to the area. Ambulances are stationed on the beach to receive survivors. The transport minister for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Erhan Arikli, reported that approximately 100 passengers had been brought ashore, and the ship has since completely sunk.

Mustafa Koc, who rescued around 65 people with his private boat, expressed concerns about the decision to sail. He told the BBC that the sea was "quite choppy" and that the crew "should have waited until the sea was calm." Koc also mentioned that the boat had arrived in Kyrenia on Saturday with some visible damage to its front.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his condolences to Turkish Cypriots and affirmed that search and rescue efforts are continuing without interruption. He noted that extensive operations were launched immediately in cooperation with TRNC authorities.

The privately owned ferry, a high-speed 40m long, 10m wide Filo Jet vessel, sails under the flag of Turkey, according to marine traffic data. The company operating the boat, Filo Denizcilik, released a statement expressing deep sadness over the tragedy.

Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the disaster, with Üstel vowing that "even the slightest negligence will be uncovered" and "no one will be spared, regardless of who they are."