News Center_Eight people have died and 18 others remain missing after a passenger boat capsized off the coast of Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus.

The boat was carrying 267 people at the time of the incident, including 259 passengers and eight crew members. Rescue teams have so far recovered and rescued 237 people, while search operatios continue for the missing.

According to media reports, the boat began taking on water shortly after leaving Kyrenia port and became at risk of sinking at approximately four nautical miles from the port.

The boat departed around 12:30 p.m. local time, heading to Taşucu port on the Turkish coast, before suffering a sudden water leak and then capsizing. Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the incident.

Footage from the scene showed the boat capsized in the water,with a number of passengers gathered on its hull wearing life jackets, while rescue boats and ships involved in relief operations were scattered around it.

An aircraft, along with several ships and boats, participated in the search and rescue efforts, as health authorities in Northern Cyprus announced they had raised the state of alert in hospitals in preparation for receiving the injured and providing necessary medical care.