Northern Cyprus halts all Girne port traffic following deadly ferry accident

Authorities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have suspended all ferry services at the port of Girne. The shutdown follows the capsizing of a vessel operated by the Filo company; there is currently no set date for the resumption of traffic. The incident occurred on Sunday approximately 2.5 kilometers off the coast of Girne. The ferry was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel reported at least eight deaths, while 18 people remain missing. Search and rescue teams are utilizing divers and drones to locate survivors. A three-day period of mourning has been declared in the region. Law enforcement has detained the ship's captain and eight other officials responsible for the voyage.