This was stated by the Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus, Ünal Üstel, to the state-run Turkish television channel TRT.
According to Üstel, the ferry, a catamaran, encountered severe weather conditions and began taking on water just 15 minutes after departure. The ferry capsized a few kilometres off the northern coast of Cyprus.
Of the 237 rescued, just over 160 have been taken to hospital. The rest have not required hospital treatment. A search operation for 22 missing people was underway on Sunday evening.
“The front part exploded”
Several rescued passengers told local media that an explosion was heard from the ferry's bow before it began to capsize.
"The front part exploded. They tried to turn around. And the side windows were blown out and the boat started taking on water," a person told the TRNC television channel.
Others said there had been a shortage of life jackets and lifebuoys.
"It was literally a fight for survival," one man told CNN Turk.
Pictures and videos that were shared on social media after the accident showed people sitting on the ferry's hull waiting to be rescued.
Both government rescue boats and private boats have participated in the rescue efforts.
Sunk to the bottom
The ship was sailing from Kyrenia to Tasucu in southern Turkey. On board were 259 passengers and eight crew members.
Northern Cyprus' Transport Minister Erhan Arikli told TRT that the ship had sunk to the bottom, at a depth of just over 500 metres.
The ferry, a high-speed catamaran, is around 40 metres long with two parallel hulls, which reduces water resistance and allows it to reach very high speeds.
