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Ferry from Kyrenia to Turkey capsizes; death toll and weather disputed

Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, CyprusPublished 30 Aug 2026

Kyrenia harbour in northern Cyprus, the port the Filojet left on Sunday.
Kyrenia harbour in northern Cyprus, the port the Filojet left on Sunday.

Michal Klajban / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

A passenger ferry en route from Kyrenia in northern Cyprus to Turkey capsized on Sunday. Outlets disagree on how many people died, how many remain missing, and whether two waves, a broken bow, an explosion, or delayed weather caused the Filojet to take on water.

The Filojet, a catamaran ferry operated by Filo Denizcilik, capsized Sunday after leaving Kyrenia for Tasucu, Turkey, with officials putting about 267 people aboard. Search and rescue continued after the hull went down in water about 514 metres deep; the captain and seven crew were detained. Outlets split on deaths (seven or eight), missing counts (17 to 24), whether Sunday weather was suitable, and whether two waves, a broken bow, or a blast at the bow caused the ship to flood.

Shared facts

A passenger ferry capsized off Kyrenia in northern Cyprus on Sunday.

The ferry was travelling from Kyrenia (Girne) to Tasucu in Mersin province, Turkey.

The ferry was a catamaran-style vessel.

The vessel was the Filojet (also called Filo Jet).

The ferry belonged to the Filo Denizcilik company.

Officials said about 267 people were aboard, including 259 passengers and eight crew.

The sailing had been scheduled for Saturday but was delayed because of poor weather.

The ferry began taking on water about four nautical miles, or about 7.5 kilometres, off Kyrenia.

Unal Ustel said a first wave hit the boat and a second wave caused it to take on water.

The ferry began taking on water after leaving Kyrenia.

Unal Ustel said 237 people had been rescued.

Dozens of people were taken to hospitals in Kyrenia and northern Nicosia.

Officials said the ferry sank to a depth of 514 metres.

Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul said the ferry sank off Diana Beach.

Video showed people in life vests on or around the overturned hull.

When the ship capsized, passengers clung to its overturned hull.

The ship's captain and seven crew members were detained.

Search and rescue operations continued for people still unaccounted for.

Turkey joined the search and rescue, sending coastguard vessels, helicopters and naval ships.

Helicopters and coastguard boats were dispatched to the scene.

Turkish Cypriot and Turkish coastguard vessels, a civilian passenger boat and helicopters were sent to the scene.

Private boats took part in the rescue alongside official vessels.

Turkish authorities said six naval ships were dispatched to support the rescue.

Officials said divers from Turkey would assist the underwater search.

Ambulances were stationed at the port or beach to receive rescued passengers.

The Republic of Cyprus said it was ready to assist in search and rescue.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences and said efforts to reach the missing continued.

The TRNC is recognised only by Turkey and controls the northern third of Cyprus, divided since 1974.

Turkey occupied the north in 1974 after a Greek Cypriot coup seeking union with Greece.

Kyrenia is a popular holiday destination for locals and tourists.

The private ferry was one of several daily shuttle services linking northern Cyprus with Turkey.

TRNC President Tufan Erhurman visited the scene or crisis centre.

Disputed facts

Sources disagree on whether the ferry left Kyrenia around 12:10 p.m. or about 12:30 p.m. local time.

Sources disagree on whether Sunday weather was adverse or considered suitable for travel.

Sources disagree on the death toll, reporting seven or eight people dead.

Sources disagree on how many people remain missing, with figures from 17 to 24.

Shared opinions

Tufan Erhurman said he was deeply saddened by the loss of life.

Erhurman said there was a great sense of shock and that this was not something they had experienced before.

Ustel said the priority right now is human life.

BBC News

Eight killed and others missing after ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus

George Wright and Ruth Comerford

Published 30 Aug 2026 accessed 30 Aug 2026

Facts

Erhan Arikli told local media that 100 passengers had been taken to shore.

Mustafa Koc saved around 65 people with his boat after the vessel capsized.

Koc said the boat arrived in Kyrenia on Saturday and had some damage in the front.

Arikli told TRT on Sunday evening the ship had completely sunk.

Marine Traffic listed the Filo Jet as a 40m by 10m high-speed vessel sailing under the flag of Turkey.

Filo Denizcilik, which operates the boat, said it was deeply saddened by the accident.

The nationalities of those aboard and the status of the injured are unclear.

A hotline has been set up to provide passengers' relatives with information.

Opinion

Üstel said no one will be spared, regardless of who is found at fault.

Üstel said even the slightest negligence will be uncovered.

Mustafa Koc told the BBC the crew should have waited until the sea was calm.

Koc said people died and it is not right.

Reuters

At least eight die, 18 missing after ferry capsizes off North Cyprus

Daren Butler and Michele Kambas

Published 30 Aug 2026 accessed 30 Aug 2026

Facts

Authorities said it immediately started taking on water for an unknown reason.

Survivors said a hard impact broke the bow of the two-hulled vessel, allowing water to seep in.

Two hundred forty-one people were rescued.

Survivors reported the ferry moving erratically.

Relatives waited outside a local hospital and the port gates in Kyrenia for news.

One person died Saturday after a sailboat crashed onto rocks in the island's south-east.

Opinion

Reuters said the incident sent shockwaves through the territory.

The Guardian

At least eight dead and 18 missing after ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus

Helena Smith and Angelique Chrisafis

Published 30 Aug 2026 accessed 30 Aug 2026

Facts

Harmanci said most of the passengers were Turks and Turkish Cypriots.

Erhurman said they have reached 244 people.

Harmanci said they still don't know how many have been injured or how badly.

CyBC reported the boat was new and the captain told passengers to put on lifejackets when it took on water four miles from the coast.

An unnamed official said the ferry is much cheaper than the plane and only takes a few hours.

Opinion

Mehmet Harmanci described the disaster as the worst in more than 40 years since the territory proclaimed independence.

The official said a lot of the passengers were poor.

CBS News

Ferry carrying nearly 270 people capsizes off northern Cyprus, killing at least 7

Associated Press

Published 30 Aug 2026 accessed 30 Aug 2026

Facts

Ustel said it began taking on water just 15 minutes after departure.

Ustel said a call for help was issued shortly after.

Opinion

Letymbiotis said the protection of human life is paramount.

France 24

Ferry capsizes and sinks off northern Cyprus, killing 8

France 24

Published 30 Aug 2026 accessed 30 Aug 2026

Facts

Rescued passengers told local media a blast had gone off at the bow before the ferry rolled over.

Passengers said the boat had an insufficient supply of life-vests.

Authorities said 161 people were rescued and taken to hospital and 76 have returned home.

Cevdet Yilmaz said Turkey is providing all necessary assistance to the search and rescue operations.

The passenger said the side windows blew out.

The passenger said he saw the captain among the first to abandon ship without organising anything.

The witness said he had reported water leaks to the captain.

The man said many people had been inside the ferry when it started taking on water.

France 24 said the TRNC is dependent on Turkey.

The unnamed man in his 50s said he spent an hour and a half in the water before being rescued.

The TRNC health ministry said all necessary preparations were being made for a swift response from rescue and health services.

The territory is served with regular air and sea links to Turkey.

Opinion

Multici said it was literally a fight for survival.

The Daily Signal

7 dead as ferry en route to Türkiye capsizes off Cyprus

Daily Sabah with Agencies

Published 30 Aug 2026 accessed 30 Aug 2026

Facts

Arıklı said coast guard teams reached the scene about 15 to 20 minutes after the report.

Another passenger vessel waiting at Girne Port was sent to take passengers aboard.

Ambassador Ali Murat Başçeri confirmed there were fatalities and that most passengers had been rescued.

Arıklı said some rescued passengers were seriously injured and others were in stable condition.

Civil Defense teams set up a medical treatment tent at the port.

The passenger vessel AKGÜNLER 3 was deployed to assist with the evacuation.

A crisis desk chaired by Üstel convened after the capsizing.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

Cyprus Mail

Kyrenia ferry death toll rises to eight

Tom Cleaver

Published 30 Aug 2026 accessed 30 Aug 2026

Facts

Arikli said the remaining 242 people who were on board have been brought ashore.

Arikli pushed back on suggestions the ferry was not seaworthy.

Arikli said the ferry had undergone an inspection just two months ago by a reliable company.

Arikli acknowledged the boat had taken on water very quickly and sunk.

Arikli said the boat's black box must be recovered so they can understand why it sank.

Larnaca's JRCC said it is ready to help but has not received a response.

UN special representative Khassim Diagne said he was deeply saddened and offered condolences.

Christodoulides instructed Menelaos Menelaou to contact Erhurman to make clear readiness to provide all possible assistance.

The boat capsized around two kilometres north of the Kyrenia coast.

Opinion

Letymbiotis said the protection of human life is above all else.

A government official said when human lives are in danger they contribute with every available means.