Rescuers are continuing their search for 18 passengers of a ferry which capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday.

The vessel, which was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members, began taking on water soon after departing the coastal town of Kyrenia in the self-proclaimed Turkish republic on Cyprus.

Eight people have been confirmed to have died in the incident, while 19 are currently being treated at hospitals in northern Cyprus, local authorities say.

The ship's captain, seven crew members, and another man were arrested on Monday, while warrants have been issued for a further seven people.

Ünal Üstel, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is only recognised by Turkey, announced a three-day period of national mourning.

The boat has completely sunk and is lying at a depth of 514m (1,686ft), officials say.

Debris remains scattered across the water, including a black wheelie suitcase bobbing on the surface and a sheet of steel that appeared to have broken away from the ferry.

Authorities are attempting to recover the vessel's black box recorder to establish what happened.

The privately owned ferry left the popular holiday resort of Kyrenia at about 12:30 (09:30 GMT), en route to the town of Tasucu in Turkey.

It had been scheduled to travel to Turkey on Saturday but its journey was delayed due to poor weather conditions.

Üstel told local media the boat was hit by two waves before it capsized.

While the captain of the vessel was trying to recover from the first wave, a second wave hit and it began taking on water, he said.

Among the missing are Ayten Bicer's two children – her 12-year-old daughter Miray and six-year-old son Mehmet Asaf.

She told local media she felt Miray slip out of her hands and disappear as they tried to cling on to the overturned boat.

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

She said a suitcase fell on top of her which forced her daughter from her grip. She managed to grab hold of her daughter's foot, but her shoes were coated in engine oil from the overturned vessel and she slipped through her hands.

She and her husband, Hayri, are by the port in Kyrenia with other families as they await news of their loved ones.

The ferry – a high-speed 40m long, 10m wide Filo Jet vessel – sails under the flag of Turkey, according to Marine Traffic.

Filo Denizcilik, the company which operates the capsized passenger boat, said it was "deeply saddened by the tragic accident".

The TRNC controls the northern third of the island of Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974.