NICOSIA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people died after a boat carrying between 150 and 160 migrants sunk off the northern coast of Cyprus island, Turkish Cypriot media reported on Wednesday.
Quoting a statement from the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus, the media said 101 people were rescued, leaving about 33 to 43 people unaccounted for.
Turkey occupied part of Cyprus in 1974, in reaction to a coup by the military rulers of Greece at the time.
Turkish Cypriot sources said that the boat started taking in water at around 6 a.m.local time. The rescue operation is being carried out by the Turkish military, with the help of helicopters.
The sources said that rescued people were taken back to Turkey where they are believed to have sailed from.
This is the second time a boat carrying immigrants has sunk as it tried to approach this part of the island.
On May 14, nine people were reported to have drowned after their boat went down in the same general region, with one person believed to be missing.
