At Least Eight Dead After Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus

At least eight people have died and more than a dozen remain missing after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday. The vessel, carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members, began taking on water shortly after departing the coastal town of Kyrenia.

Vessel Overturned by Consecutive Waves

The vessel involved in the incident was the Filo Jet, a 40-meter-long, high-speed Turkish-flagged catamaran operated by Filo Denizcilik. According to Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the ferry departed Kyrenia at around 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT) after being delayed from its original Saturday schedule due to bad weather. Üstel reported that the boat was struck by two consecutive waves, taking on water after the second impact while the captain attempted to recover from the first.

Local media reported that the ferry had completely sunk by Sunday evening. Images broadcast by local television showed the overturned hull in the water with passengers wearing life jackets standing on top before being rescued.

Rescue Operations and Investigation Underway

A major search and rescue operation involving helicopters, coastguard boats, and emergency medical personnel on nearby beaches was launched immediately. Turkish authorities joined the effort alongside local security forces. Erhan Arikli, the TRNC transport minister, confirmed that at least 100 passengers had been safely brought to shore. Private boat owner Mustafa Koc also assisted, rescuing roughly 65 people. Koc noted that the sea was quite choppy at the time of departure and claimed the vessel had sustained some front-end damage upon its arrival in Kyrenia on Saturday.

Authorities have initiated an investigation into the cause of the disaster. Üstel announced that the ferry's captain and seven crew members have been detained for questioning, promising a thorough probe into any potential negligence. Filo Denizcilik expressed deep sadness over the tragic event and established a hotline for relatives. The nationalities of the passengers and the status of those injured have not yet been released.