A businessman has died after several yachts were forced into rocks by a storm off the coast of Cyprus.
At least six people have been left injured after a vessel crashed in choppy seas near Cape Greco on the Island’s southeastern coast.
Dimis Mavropoulos, 77, was pulled unconscious from the water by a rescue helicopter before being later pronounced dead.
Two survivors were treated in hospital, Sigmalive reported.
A witness named only as A Panikos told Philenews said he was taking pictures on the coast when disaster suddenly unfolded.
He explained: ‘The first boat was intact, it did not hit the rocks. It was later broken by a huge wave. We tied the rope to a large rock and threw it for the man to catch, because he did not know how to swim.’
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The vessel then broke up in the water as police arrived on the scene, he said.
Mr Mavropoulos’s ship tipped sideways into the rocks when two women dived off the decks, Panikos said.
The businessman was reportedly urged by his friends to evacuate the boat, but insisted on staying behind to save it from the rocks.
On the island’s northern coast, a high speed ferry carrying 260 people capsized in the storm near the town of Kyrenia.
Mayor Murat Senkul told CNN Turk that 159 of the 258 passengers on board the vessel were accounted for. That number is thought to have now risen to more than 200.
However, it is understood that the incident caused several fatalities and dozens are still missing.
The vessel, which some reports said was a catamaran, began taking in water about four miles off the shore when emergency services including ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
Public works minister Erhan Arikli said ‘rough’ sea conditions were complicating the rescue operation.
‘Our priority is to bring our passengers to land without loss of life’, he said.
Turkiye’s vice-president Cevdet Yilmaz said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the news we have received.
‘A catamaran-type passenger ship has sunk after taking on water off the coast of Girne.
‘Search and rescue operations have been launched by the TRNC and Republic of Turkey Coast Guard units and relevant institutions and are continuing without interruption.’
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