At Least Seven Dead and 23 Missing After Passenger Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus

At least seven people have died and 23 others remain missing after a passenger ferry carrying 267 people capsized off the coast of Kyrenia in northern Cyprus. The vessel began taking on water shortly after departing the coastal holiday town, prompting a major search and rescue operation involving local and Turkish authorities.

The vessel involved was the Filo Jet, a 40-meter-long, Turkish-flagged high-speed catamaran operated by Filo Denizcilik. According to Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the ferry was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when the disaster occurred. The ship had originally been scheduled to travel to Turkey on Saturday, but its departure was delayed until Sunday at 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT) because of poor weather conditions.

Catamaran Overturned by Consecutive Waves

Üstel stated that the vessel was struck by two consecutive waves after leaving port. While the captain attempted to stabilize the ferry following the first impact, a second wave hit, causing the vessel to fill with water and overturn. Broadcast images showed the upside-down hull in the water, with survivors wearing life jackets standing on top of the capsized ship. TRNC Transport Minister Erhan Arikli later confirmed that the ferry had completely sunk.

Coastguard boats, rescue vessels, and helicopters were immediately deployed to the area, while ambulances waited on nearby beaches to receive survivors. Arikli informed local media that at least 100 passengers had been safely brought to shore. While officials reported seven confirmed fatalities, Turkish media outlets indicated the death toll had reached eight. The nationalities of those on board and the conditions of the injured have not yet been released.

Crew Detained Pending Investigation

Authorities have launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the capsizing. Üstel announced on social media that the ship's captain and seven crew members have been detained as part of the investigation. He emphasized that any negligence would be uncovered and that responsible parties would be held accountable regardless of their status.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed condolences and confirmed that Turkish forces were actively assisting in the uninterrupted search-and-rescue efforts. Filo Denizcilik expressed deep sadness over the accident and established a dedicated hotline to assist the families of the passengers.