A Turkish Cypriot court ruled to detain nine suspects for three days, in relation to the ferry that capsized off the coast of north Cyprus, officials said on Monday (August 31).

Search and rescue operations were continuing to find 20 people missing from among the 267 people onboard the ferry, which now sits at the bottom of the sea at more than 500 metres deep, said Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman.

He added that two ships were expected to arrive from Turkey to conduct search operations in the depth, which cannot be reached by divers.

"It (underwater search with deep sea vessels) will start as of tomorrow," he told reporters outside the Kyrenia port, where families and friends of the passengers onboard were still waiting to hear news of their loved ones.

The double-hulled ferry took in water and capsized on Sunday (August 30) just off the port city of Kyrenia, leaving survivors clinging to the overturned hull. Separate accounts said the wide-bodied vessel jolted violently before slamming on to the sea surface with part of its bow bursting open on impact. Severe storms hit Cyprus on Saturday (August 29) and the seas were still rough on Sunday, when the disaster occurred.

Debris remained scattered across the water on Monday, including a pink suitcase bobbing on the surface and a sheet of steel that appeared to have broken away from the ferry. It was unclear if people remained trapped in the vessel, now lying on the seabed.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

REFILE: Nine detained in relation to ferry capsize in northern Cyprus as search continues

VIDEO SHOWS: SUSPECTS DETAINED OVER CAPSIZED FERRY OFF NORTHERN CYPRUS BROUGHT TO COURTHOUSE / DEBRIS AND BELONGINGS ON FERRY AT SEA / TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER, TUFAN ERHURMAN, SPEAKING TO MEDIA

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: RESENDING EDIT TO REMOVE LAST SHOT OF A NEWS CONFERENCE WHICH WAS MISTAKENLY ADDED FROM ANOTHER SEPARATE STORY

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: KYRENIA, CYPRUS (AUGUST 31, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. EXTERIOR OF KYRENIA COURTHOUSE

2. DETAINEES BEING BROUGHT TO COURTHOUSE

3. DETAINEES EXITING COURTHOUSE

4. DETAINEES BEING BROUGHT TO BUS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER, TUFAN ERHURMAN, SAYING:

"(A decision) was made for a three-day detention of nine people. The judge suggested that the investigation into the others to begin immediately. Therefore, this is the judicial leg of the issue.

6. ERHURMAN SPEAKING TO PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE PORT

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER, TUFAN ERHURMAN, SAYING:

"It (underwater search with deep sea vessels) will start as of tomorrow. As I said before, we think the ship is at a depth of 514 metres. It is not possible to go down there with divers. Therefore, we are waiting for two ships that will come from Turkey. One of them will be here tomorrow."

AT SEA (AUGUST 31, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

8. VARIOUS OF DINGHY LEAVING PORT AND MOVING TO AREA WHERE FERRY SANK

9. VARIOUS OF LUGGAGE BEING RECOVERED FROM SEA / LUGGAGE IN DINGHY

10. KYRENIA SEEN FROM SEA

11. VARIOUS OF DEBRIS FROM FERRY SEEN IN WATER

12. HELICOPTER FLYING AS SEARCH OPERATIONS CONTINUE