Passengers scrambled for life jackets onboard a high-speed ferry as it was sinking off the northern coast of Cyprus.

Some 270 passengers and crew were onboard the Filo Jet when it capsized near Diana Beach shortly after departing the city of Kyrenia for Tasucu in Turkiye.

At least eight people died in the incident, and authorities have now arrested both the captain and seven crew members as inquiries into the capsizing continue.

A clip shared on X showed manic scenes onboard the ferry as people rushed to put on lifejackets, with some still holding onto their backpacks as the boat went down.

Survivors reported the ferry moving erratically, lifting out of the water before slamming into it again, with the violent thuds eventually breaking the bow of the two-hulled vessel.

Survivor Efe Multici said: ‘The vessel had been moving very badly. It was constantly lifting out of the water and slamming back down. It was shaking violently.

‘Three or four minutes later, the ferry leapt high into the air, then came crashing down. The front left side burst open and water started pouring in.’

The incident came as Cyprus was rocked by a severe storm over the weekend, with at least three yachts also crashing into rocks on the island’s southern coast.

However authorities had deemed the weather on Sunday safe enough to sail.

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the sinking, which he said had shocked communities, adding that efforts were being made to use technology to reach passengers still stuck in the stricken vessel.

Speaking at a crisis centre, he said: ‘There is a great sense of shock here. This is not something we have experienced before.’

Northern Cyprus is an annexed area of the island recognised only by Turkiye, on which the area depends for economic and military support.

Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences to passengers.

‘Efforts to reach those who are still missing continue uninterrupted’, he said.

‘God willing, we hope to receive positive news from these efforts.’

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