**Title: Eyewitness Accounts Emerge Following Sinking of Passenger Ferry off Kyrenia**
**Kyrenia, Cyprus** – Eyewitness testimonies began to surface on Monday regarding the sinking of a passenger ferry off the coast of Kyrenia over the weekend. Passengers reported that they urged the captain to return to port as the vessel began taking on water, but their requests allegedly went unheeded.
The incident occurred on Sunday, prompting a swift response from local boat owners and emergency services. One passenger, who was receiving treatment at Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu Hospital in northern Nicosia, recounted to Turkish opposition New Party deputy leader Ali Mahir Basarir that they repeatedly told the captain to stop the ferry. “We told him to stop. We were telling him so much to stop. He did not stop. It was already clear when we were going, the boat was flying into the sky and landing back on the sea,” the passenger stated.
In a session at the Turkish Cypriot Kyrenia district court, the ferry's captain claimed that the vessel was overwhelmed by waves, stating, “waves broke the front off the boat.” However, this explanation was met with skepticism by several passengers who were present during the incident.
Local boat owner Mustafa Koc, who operates tours from Kyrenia's old port, provided additional context regarding the rescue efforts. Koc reported that he was informed of the ferry's distress and quickly dispatched his own tour boat to assist. He described witnessing the ferry listing to one side with approximately 80 to 90 passengers aboard. “We saw the boat listing sideways on the way. The people on the boat were in a good condition. We somehow approached and tied ourselves to it,” he said. Koc's boat managed to rescue around 60 to 65 passengers, delivering them to the new port where ambulances awaited.
Interestingly, Koc noted that the ferry's captain was among the first to evacuate the sinking vessel. “The captain of the boat got off first. I had the captain on board my boat. I took him. I also had the first mate,” he added.
Concerns regarding the ferry's seaworthiness have also been raised in light of the incident. Reports indicate that the ferry had been involved in a crash 12 years prior, and a technical evaluation from 2018 suggested significant issues. According to Turkish television reporter Ismail Kucukkaya, the report indicated that the ferry was constructed for use on lakes rather than open seas, raising questions about its structural integrity and stability in rough waters. Despite these concerns, it was stated in court that the ferry was technically capable of navigating waves up to three meters in height.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances that led to the ferry's sinking and evaluating the safety protocols in place for passenger vessels operating in the region. The incident has sparked discussions about maritime safety standards and the responsibilities of captains in emergency situations.
Local authorities and maritime experts are expected to conduct further inquiries to determine the cause of the incident and assess the ferry's compliance with safety regulations. The outcome of these investigations may lead to changes in policies governing passenger ferries in Cyprus and the surrounding areas.