A man was killed and several others injured in a separate boating accident in the south east of Cyprus on Saturday.

Dimis Mavropoulos, a Greek-Cypriot businessman in his 70s, died after his sailboat crashed onto rocks in the rough seas as the island was battered by fierce storms.

Local media reported that he was pulled unconscious from the water by a rescue helicopter and airlifted to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Two survivors were being treated in hospital, according to reports.

Search teams are having difficulty reaching possible passengers in the capsized ferry, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman has said.

Speaking from the crisis centre set up in the ‌area, he told reporters: “We have still not been ‌able to reach 23 people. Search and rescue teams are working very intensively to find them.

"If there are people still inside the vessel, reaching them does not appear easy at the moment. Efforts are being made using other technologies to reach them as well.”

Mr Erhurman said there was a “great sense of shock” about the incident, noting that the weather was considered suitable for travel.

“This is not something we have experienced before... we are extremely saddened. Everyone is doing everything they can and making every effort,” he said.

The Filo Jet ferry that capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus today was a “high speed craft” sailing under a Turkish flag.

According to Marine Traffic, it left the northern Cypriot port of Kyrenia at 11:58am on Sunday and was due to arrive at Tasucu in Turkey at 5.52pm local time.

The ferry, which belonged to operator Filo Denizcilik, was 40.5m long and 10.4m wide and built in 2000.

Filo Denizcilik operates ferry services connecting Northern Cyprus and Turkey and goes between four different ports.

A boat carrying 267 people capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, killing at least seven people.

An urgent rescue operation is underway to find the 23 people who are missing, while the remaining 237 people have been rescued.

There were 259 passengers on the boat and eight crew.

The catamaran-style boat, operated by ferry company Filo Denizcilik, was travelling from the port of Kyrenia to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province.

It sank off the coast of Diana beach after facing adverse weather conditions.

Authorities said it started taking in water just 15 minutes after departure when it was around 7.5km from shore.

The coast guard and Turkish navy have deployed helicopters and several vessels to search for survivors.

Several helicopters and Turkish Navy ships have been deployed to help rescue the passengers at sea, the interior ministry said.

At least 16 vessels and two helicopters belonging to the coast guard and navy have been dispatched.

“Search and rescue efforts are being carried out meticulously and in coordination among the relevant units,” it said.

An urgent search is underway to find the 23 missing people, the self-declared northern Cyprus prime minister said.

In a statement shared to social media, Unal Ustel said all resources had been mobilised following the “tragic” incident.

“Our utmost priority at this moment is to reach the 23 missing individuals as soon as possible,” he said.

“Out of the total 267 people on board the ship, 237 have been rescued by our teams. Unfortunately, 7 individuals have lost their lives.

“I offer my condolences from Allah for those who have passed away, and wish patience and strength to their families and loved ones. I pray for a swift recovery for the injured.

“All institutions of our state are on the ground. We are continuing the search and rescue efforts with the utmost care and closely following developments.”

The boat that capsized in northern Cyprus on Sunday was operated by ferry company Filo Denizcilik, Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul said.

Filo Denizcilik operates ferry services connecting Northern Cyprus and Turkey and goes between four different ports.

The ferry sank off the coast of Diana beach on Cyprus’ northern coast and was travelling from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, in the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province.