An alarm has been raised in the occupied territories, as a passenger and cargo ship sank off the coast of occupied Kyrenia, with reports indicating that more than 270 people—passengers and crew members—were on board.

According to a report in the Turkish Cypriot newspaper YENİDÜZEN, the ship sank off Diana Beach.

Speaking to YENİDÜZEN, the so-called “Minister of Transport” of the occupied territories, Erhan Arıklı, stated that the ship was located just off the new port of Kyrenia shortly before it sank and that rescue operations had begun.

The so-called “mayor” of Kyrenia, Murat Şenkul, also confirmed the news in a social media post.

As he stated, “the passenger and cargo ship Diana sank off Diana Beach.”

According to the same report, there were more than 270 people on board the ship, and the situation is described as particularly serious.

The so-called coast guard is participating in the rescue operation with the vessel Akgünler Express, as well as a large number of small boats.

Efforts to rescue those on board are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the so-called “mayor” of Kyrenia has issued an appeal to avoid posts that could lead to misinformation.