Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus: At Least 7 Dead, Dozens Missing
- At least seven people died and 23 others remained missing after a privately operated passenger ferry carrying 267 people on board capsized off the coast of Northern Cyprus...
- Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman stated in a live broadcast reported by CNN Turk that 237 people had been rescued alive following the disaster.
- The catamaran departed the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, at 12:30 p.m.
At least seven people died and 23 others remained missing after a privately operated passenger ferry carrying 267 people on board capsized off the coast of Northern Cyprus on Aug. 30, 2026. The catamaran-style vessel, identified by the Turkish Cypriot Interior Ministry as the FILOJET, sank a few kilometres off the Mediterranean resort port of Kyrenia while traveling toward the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province.
Emergency Response and Rescue Operations off Kyrenia
Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman stated in a live broadcast reported by CNN Turk that 237 people had been rescued alive following the disaster. Prime Minister Unal Ustel announced a massive deployment to the area involving local security forces and emergency services. According to Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar, the Northern Cyprus Coast Guard Command deployed passenger ships, five pilotage units, and two coast guard helicopters to the site. The rescue effort also incorporated support from Turkey, with the Turkish Naval Forces assigning six naval units alongside five additional Turkish coast guard vessels, according to the Turkish Cypriot Interior Ministry. Survivors were found clinging to the overturned orange hull of the vessel, with video footage showing passengers wearing life vests atop the capsized ship. Transport Minister Erhan Arikli told news agency Anadolu that injured survivors were being brought back to Girne port for immediate transfer to local hospitals. The Ministry of Health of Northern Cyprus confirmed that regional medical facilities were placed on alert to handle incoming casualties.
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Vessel Departure and Investigation Into the Sinking
The catamaran departed the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, at 12:30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT) on Aug. 30, 2026. Shortly after leaving the harbor, the ferry began taking on water for reasons that remain under investigation. The captain issued a distress call as the ship flooded, prompting port authorities and maritime safety teams to mobilize. Speaking from a crisis management center, Erhurman noted that the island had experienced fierce storms on the previous day, Saturday, Aug. 29, when a separate sailing accident caused a fatality in the south-east of Cyprus. However, Erhurman indicated that weather conditions at the time of the departure were considered suitable for travel. Transport Minister Arikli confirmed that an official inquiry will examine the exact cause of the capsize. Search and rescue teams continue efforts to locate the 23 missing individuals, utilizing specialized marine technologies to check inside the submerged hull where access remains difficult.
