NICOSIA — Rescue teams recovered additional bodies Tuesday from waters off northern Cyprus, a day after a ferry capsized. The confirmed death toll climbed as search operations continued through the night, with dozens still missing.

The vessel overturned off the northern coast. Video footage showed passengers in life vests clinging to the capsized hull as coast guard boats and fishing vessels rushed to the scene. Turkish Cypriot authorities said survivors had been taken to hospitals in Kyrenia and Nicosia, several in critical condition.

Northern maritime authorities attributed the initial rescue delay to rough conditions and the vessel's rapid capsizing. The cause of the accident remained under investigation, with scrutiny falling on the ferry operator's licensing and the boat's passenger capacity.

Turkey dispatched additional coast guard and naval assets to assist the search, while the Republic of Cyprus government offered support for the recovery effort despite the island's political division. Aid agencies warned that the number of missing could rise as manifest records were checked against survivor lists.

The disaster ranks among the deadliest maritime incidents in the eastern Mediterranean in recent years, raising questions about overcrowding and safety standards on regional passenger vessels.