Major Sea Disaster Off North Cyprus: At Least 8 Dead, 18 Missing After Ferry Capsizes Near Kyrenia

NICOSIA — At least eight people have died and 18 remain missing following the catastrophic capsizing of a passenger ferry off the northern coast of Cyprus. The vessel, carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew, went down in the eastern Mediterranean on Sunday afternoon, triggering a massive multinational search-and-rescue operation.

The catamaran-style ferry, identified as the Filo Jet, had departed the port of Kyrenia at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time, bound for the Turkish port of Taşucu. According to officials and survivors, the ship began taking on water shortly after leaving port, encountering trouble about 4 nautical miles (7.5 kilometers) offshore.

Survivors Recount Terrifying Moments

Eyewitnesses and survivors described chaotic scenes as the vessel began behaving erratically before rolling over.

"The vessel had been moving very badly. It was constantly lifting out of the water and slamming back down. It was shaking violently," survivor Efe Multici told regional media. "Three or four minutes later, the ferry leapt high into the air, then came crashing down. The front left side burst open and water started pouring in."

Images from the scene showed distressed passengers wearing life jackets standing and clinging to the overturned hull of the ship before it eventually sank entirely. The wreckage has since settled on the seabed at a depth of over 500 meters (1,686 feet).

Intense Rescue Operations and Legal Fallout

Emergency responders, including coast guard vessels and helicopters from both Northern Cyprus and mainland Turkey, managed to rescue 241 people. Survivors were brought back to Kyrenia port, where anxious families gathered outside hospitals and port gates awaiting news.

In the wake of the disaster, local police detained the ferry's captain and seven crew members for questioning as investigators work to determine the exact cause of the sinking. The Turkish Cypriot government has announced a comprehensive inquiry and declared three days of national mourning, while leaders from across the region—including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—have extended condolences to the victims' families and pledged continued support for the ongoing search for those still unaccounted for.