BODRUM, Turkey — At least six people have died after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, Turkish media reported.

More than 172 people have been rescued, Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus Unal Ustel told Turkey's state-run TRT news channel.

The catamaran-style ferry was traveling from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, located in the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province. Kyrenia is one of the main harbors of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a self-declared state recognized only by Turkey, which maintains regular ferry connections with ports on Turkey's southern coast. The Kyrenia–Tasucu crossing is one of the busiest passenger routes between northern Cyprus and Turkey, widely used by both locals and travelers, and crossings of this scale place significant demands on maritime safety and emergency response capacity in the region.

Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Basceri said there were some casualties, but did not specify how many, speaking to Turkey's state-run TRT news channel. Many of the 259 passengers and eight crew members were rescued, Basceri said, adding that some of them were taken to hospital.

Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul said the vessel belonged to the Filo Denizcilik ferry company and sank off the coast of Diana beach on Cyprus' northern coast. The ferry began taking in water roughly 7.5 kilometers off the coast, TRT reported.

Video footage from the scene showed people wearing life vests floating in the water around the capsized vessel. The fact that the vessel capsized relatively close to shore, within roughly 7.5 kilometers of the coast, is likely to draw attention in the eventual investigation, as near-shore incidents in calm operating conditions typically prompt scrutiny of vessel condition, loading, and weather factors. Authorities have not commented on any of these potential factors.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey intervened in the north of the island following a coup aimed at unifying Cyprus with Greece. The island's northern third is administered by the Turkish Cypriot administration, while the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus governs the south. Rescue and emergency response operations in the north are typically conducted in coordination with Turkish authorities.

The exact cause of the capsize has not yet been determined, and authorities have not released an updated casualty figure. A formal investigation into the sinking would be expected to examine the vessel's seaworthiness and the circumstances of the voyage, though no details of such a probe have been announced.