Captain and crew detained after eight die on capsizing ferry

Survivors have been describing how their ferry capsized in northern Cyprus with 267 people onboard,killing eight.

The captain and seven crew members of the passenger ship Express have been detained by authorities as they assess any ‘negligence’ with the sinking.

The ferry was carrying 258 passengers plus crew from Kyrenia (Girne) to the Turkish port of Tasucu when the incident took place.

Footage taken on board shows passengers scrambling to put on life jackets. Some described passengers becoming stuck under chairs after water started gushing in.

One rescued passenger who spoke of a blast on board told local TRNC television after he was taken back ashore: ‘The front part exploded,they tried to turn around. And the side windows blew out. The boat started taking on water.’

A group of survivors sit on top of a boat after being rescued (Picture: DHA/DHA via AP)

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.The survivor,aged in his 50s,said he spent an hour and a half in the water before he was saved. He described scenes of panic when water began flowing into the busy cabin.‘Those who could,got out,’ he said,claiming that he saw the captain among the first to abandon ship ‘without organising anything’.Another witness,in his thirties,claimed he had reported water leaks to the captain.‘The seats started to float,the captain kept going,and the bow exploded,’ he claimed.More than 200 people were rescued from the ship and search and rescue operations are continuing,local media reported.The boat began to take on water a few miles from the coast before capsizing,Turkish state-run broadcaster TRT news reported.Survivors pictured on board a rescue boat heading back to the shore (Picture: Reuters)Describing the sinking as ‘the biggest maritime disaster Cyprus has experienced,’ Prime Minister Unal Ustel said: ‘The ship’s captain and seven crew members have been detained as part of the investigation into the capsizing.‘This incident will be investigated in every aspect. If there is even the slightest negligence,it will be uncovered.‘Whoever is at fault and bears responsibility will be held accountable,’ he added.Three coast guard boats and a number of private boats responded to the incident as it sank.Survivors arrive on shore after being rescued from the capsized boat (Picture: Reuters)A helicopter was dispatched to help with rescue efforts (Pictures: Reuters)Around 100 of those who were on the boat are not yet accounted for,according to Kyrenia mayor Murat Senkul.He described the situation as ‘very serious’.The boat capsized after leaving from Kyrenia,northern Cyprus (Picture: Ozkan Bilgin/Anadolu via Getty Images)Vice president of Turkey Cevdet Yilmaz said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the news we have received.‘A catamaran-type passenger ship has sunk after taking on water off the coast of Girne.‘Search and rescue operations have been launched by the TRNC and Republic of Turkey Coast Guard units and relevant institutions and are continuing without interruption.’