Mom loses grip on daughter as passenger ferry capsizes with 20 people still missing

A ferry carrying 267 passengers and crew capsized off the northern coast of Cyprus, leaving at least eight people dead and about 20 others missing as search efforts continued Monday.

The vessel was traveling from Kyrenia in northern Cyprus to the Turkish port of Tasucu when it began taking on water shortly after leaving port Sunday, according to Reuters.

Survivors were rescued from the water and from the overturned ferry as nearby vessels and coast guard crews responded, Reuters reported.

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Among those still missing Monday were siblings Miray Bicer, 12, and Mehmet Asaf Bicer, 6, who had been visiting Cyprus with their family, the outlet reported. 

Their mother, Ayten Bicer, described the struggle to hold onto her daughter as the vessel overturned.

"She was saying, 'Don't let go,'" Bicer told Reuters. "And I didn't let go of my daughter. I swear, I didn't let her go."

A suitcase fell on Bicer during the chaos, causing her to lose her grip on the girl. 

She managed to grab her daughter's foot, but said oil from the vessel made the area slippery and the child slipped away.

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Officials raised the number of people considered missing from 18 to 20 on Monday after checking passenger records against the list of survivors, according to Reuters.

The search has also been complicated by the location of the wreckage, which lies in water more than 1,600 feet deep.

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said a ship from Turkey equipped to assist with work on the seabed was expected to arrive on Tuesday, Reuters reported. 

It remained unclear whether anyone was trapped inside the sunken ferry.

Authorities have also begun investigating what may have caused the vessel to sink.

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Nine people connected to the ferry's operations were detained as part of the investigation, according to Reuters. Authorities said the vessel had a valid seaworthiness certificate.

Questions also remain about the conditions at the time of the disaster.

Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel said the ferry encountered adverse weather and began taking on water about 15 minutes after departure, according to the Associated Press (AP). 

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Erhurman, however, said weather conditions "were not bad" and cautioned against speculating about the cause of the sinking, the outlet reported.

The internationally recognized government of Cyprus also offered to provide assistance with the search-and-rescue operation, according to AP.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed reporting.