NICOSIA, Aug 30 (Reuters) - At least seven people died and 23 were missing after a ferry carrying around 270 passengers and crew capsized off North Cyprus on Sunday, leaving survivors clinging to its overturned hull.The privately owned ferry left the port of Kyrenia at 12:30 p.m. (0930 GMT) and immediately started taking on water for an unknown reason, authorities said. It was heading for the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province in the eastern Mediterranean.

At least seven people have died after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Unal Ustel says 172 people rescued and 89 people remained missing.