Seven people are now confirmed dead and 23 remain missing after a passenger ferry capsized off the northern coast of Cyprus, according to updated figures from rescue authorities.

We previously reported that eight deaths had been confirmed and around 18 people were missing. However, latest official reports state that seven bodies have been recovered, 23 people remain unaccounted for, and 237 have been rescued from the vessel.

The 40-metre Turkish-flagged catamaran, the Filo Jet, departed Kyrenia (Girne) at around 12:30pm local time (09:30 GMT) on Sunday bound for the Turkish port of Tasucu. It began taking on water roughly two kilometres offshore before overturning. Turkish Cypriot prime minister Ünal Üstel said 267 people were on board, including crew, while Kyrenia mayor Murat Senkul put the total at around 270.

A major search-and-rescue operation has been deployed to the area. According to Al Jazeera, the Northern Cyprus Coast Guard Command dispatched two helicopters, five pilot boats and passenger ferries, alongside six vessels sent by the Turkish Naval Forces and multiple civilian craft.

Survivors have claimed that the captain ignored warnings that the vessel was taking on water shortly after leaving port and was among the first to abandon ship. Witnesses told local media that passengers urged the crew to turn back, but the boat continued towards Turkey. They described hearing a blast at the bow and side windows blowing out as seats began to float before the hull inverted.

Passengers also reported a shortage of lifejackets on board, forcing several people to jump into the sea without buoyancy aids, while some elderly passengers were reportedly trapped inside. One survivor told local television that the captain abandoned the vessel without organising an evacuation. Footage broadcast on Turkish television showed survivors in lifejackets gathered on the upturned orange hull as nearby boats arrived to assist.

The ship's captain and seven crew members were detained by Turkish Cypriot authorities on Sunday as part of an investigation into the sinking. Mr Üstel said the priority remained saving lives, but promised that "even the slightest negligence will be uncovered". Northern Cyprus transport minister Erhan Arikli told Turkey's Anadolu news agency that the cause of the disaster would be fully investigated.

Injured passengers have been brought back to Kyrenia port, where the health ministry deployed a fleet of ambulances and medical tents before transferring casualties to local hospitals. Local rescuer Mustafa Koc previously pulled roughly 65 survivors onto his boat, while civilian and state vessels brought others ashore.

The vessel's operator, Filo Denizcilik, said it was "deeply saddened by the tragic accident", adding that it has mobilised resources to coordinate with search-and-rescue teams and established a hotline for relatives. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences on Sunday and confirmed Turkey's ongoing assistance. The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey.

The nationalities of all those on board have not yet been released. I will continue to update this report as further details emerge.