New footage shows panic inside ferry that sank off Girne

New amateur footage captures the panic inside a passenger ferry as water rapidly flooded its cabin off Girne in Northern Cyprus. Passengers climbed onto their seats to escape the rising water while one person filming called for the vessel to turn back.

“Are you serious? At least turn back. There isn't a single person we can speak to, the whole place is taking on water!” a passenger can be heard saying in the video. The images show the floor of the passenger section completely submerged.

The catamaran, operated by Filo Denizcilik on the Girne-Taşucu route, was carrying 267 passengers and crew when it capsized at about 12:30. Turkish and Northern Cypriot teams rescued 249 people. Eight died, while 18 remained unaccounted for.

Northern Cyprus declared three days of national mourning after the disaster. The captain and seven crew members were detained as part of an investigation into possible negligence, despite reports that the vessel had recently undergone an inspection.

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Are you serious? At least turn back. There isn't a single person we can speak to, the whole place is taking on water!