Passengers detail horror of ferry 'exploding' as captain and crew arrested after eight die in disaster on board

Eight people are reported to have died after a passenger boat from a ferry carrying 267 passengers capsized off northern Cyprus on Sunday (30 August).

According to Cypriot and Turkish media, the death toll has risen to eight, as emergency services continue to search for missing passengers.

Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, says search and rescue operations will continue ‘uninterrupted’ until all victims are found, with 23 still missing.

The captain of the ferry which sank off the coast of Kyrenia at around 12:10pm local time has been arrested along with seven crew members.

A man in his 50s told local Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) television that the front of the boat 'exploded' and the 'side windows 'blew out' as the boat took on water.

Eight people are reported to have died (DHA via AP)

“Those who could, got out,” he said, adding that he saw the captain among the first to leave the ship 'without organising anything'.

Another witness in his 30s added: “The seats started to float, the captain kept going, and the bow exploded.”

Survivor Efe Multici recalled to CNN Turk: “I was downstairs, and water started seeping in. We told the crew. It was really windy.

“The ship kept coming up and then crashing down. When the water started seeping in, we told the crew. They didn’t take it seriously.

“Some people couldn’t find the life vests, so they had to jump off without them. It was a huge issue: the life vests.

Emergency services continue to search for missing passengers (AP Photo/Nedim Enginsoy)

“The ship went sideways at some point. It rolled toward the left. Some people broke the windows, some doors didn’t open.”

Multici managed to find a life vest and reached an inflatable raft.

"We are closely monitoring the process moment by moment through the Crisis Desk we established following the tragic shipwreck that occurred off the coast of Girne,” Prime Minister Üstel said in a statement.

"Out of the total 267 people on board the ship, 237 have been rescued by our teams. Unfortunately, seven individuals have lost their lives.

"Our search and rescue operations to locate the 23 missing persons continue without interruption, with all our resources mobilised.

The ship’s captain and seven crew members were detained (DHA via AP)

"I offer my condolences from Allah for those who have passed away, and wish patience and strength to their families and loved ones. I pray for a swift recovery for the injured.

"Our utmost priority at this moment is to reach the 23 missing individuals as soon as possible.

"All institutions of our state are on the ground. We are continuing the search and rescue efforts with the utmost care and closely following developments.

"We will continue to share confirmed information with the public."

Constantinos Letymbiotis, spokesman for Cyprus’ internationally recognised government, said in a post on X: “In these trying times, our thoughts are with those who lost their lives, those who were injured and all those who are living this tragedy.”