Ferry witnesses describe chaos: “It flew high into the air”

Passengers said they saw the ferry lift out of the water before crashing back down with such force that its bow split open. Moments later, water began rushing into the catamaran off northern Cyprus.

Witnesses told Turkish CNN that passengers had urged the crew to turn back toward the port of Kyrenia shortly after departure. A storm had moved over Cyprus during the weekend, creating large waves at sea. One woman said the captain ignored the calls and increased speed instead.

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The captain absolutely did not stop, he did not even decide to turn around. He just continued and increased the throttle.

“The captain absolutely did not stop, he did not even decide to turn around. He just continued and increased the throttle,” she told CNN. Another passenger described the vessel’s handling as “very bad,” saying it repeatedly rose out of the water and struck the waves again. “Three or four minutes later, the ferry flew high into the air and then crashed down again with a loud bang,” he said.

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It was operated in a very bad way.

Video from the rescue operation showed passengers climbing onto the ferry’s hull before it sank to the seabed, about 500 meters below the surface. Some survivors escaped through the stern or seized lifeboats, while others jumped into the sea.

One mother said she lost hold of her 12-year-old daughter after a suitcase struck her during their attempt to escape. She managed to grasp the girl’s foot, but the shoe was slippery with engine oil. “She said, ‘Don’t let go.’ And I did not let go of my daughter. I promise I did not let her go,” the mother said, according to Cyprus Mail. The mother and father reached Kyrenia, but their daughter and six-year-old son remained missing. “We are devastated,” the father said, according to The New York Times.

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Three or four minutes later, the ferry flew high into the air and then crashed down again with a loud bang.

Witnesses said the captain jumped overboard when water entered the boat. Police later arrested him and seven other crew members, while authorities opened an investigation and continued searching for survivors and the black box. Turkey also sent a deep-sea rescue team, which was due to begin searching underwater on Tuesday.

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She said, ‘Don’t let go.’ And I did not let go of my daughter. I promise I did not let her go.