On Sunday, August 30, a ferry carrying 267 people capsized in the waters near Northern Cyprus, resulting in the death toll rising to at least 8 people with around twenty more missing. Several divers have joined the search and rescue operation, diving into the deep sea to look for survivors.
According to reports from Reuters and other media outlets, early Monday, August 31, morning found a large group of anxious relatives gathered outside the port of Kyrenia (also known as Girne) in Northern Cyprus, eagerly awaiting news about their loved ones.
Naif Ezer, one of the relatives, told reporters, “We have been waiting since early morning, it’s been 12 hours or even longer.” He added that three of his friends were on board visiting their families, one has been found, but the other two remain missing.
At the scene, some people were silently crying, while others were constantly checking their phones for the latest updates.
The vessel involved in the accident, named “Filo Jet,” was a catamaran flying the flag of Turkey. It measured 40.5 meters in length and 10.4 meters in width. The ship ultimately sank to a depth of approximately 500 to 514 meters at the seabed, and it is still unclear if anyone is trapped inside.
Authorities have detained the captain and crew for questioning. Search and rescue efforts have been launched by the coast guards of both Northern Cyprus and Turkey, helicopters, and civilian vessels, with assistance from several Turkish divers.
The Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Unal Ustel, issued a statement on Sunday, expressing close monitoring of the situation. He mentioned that out of the 267 passengers on board, 237 were rescued, with 7 confirmed fatalities. Efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining 23 missing individuals.
He noted that the accident was attributed to “harsh weather conditions,” and reassured that the rescued individuals are currently out of danger, emphasizing the coordination efforts among all national agencies, security teams, medical teams, and rescue teams at the site.
The Turkish Ministry of Interior confirmed that the ferry was carrying 259 passengers and 8 crew members. Those who were rescued have been taken to local hospitals for treatment.
The “Filo Jet” was scheduled to depart last Saturday, August 30, but was postponed to Sunday due to bad weather. The vessel left the Kyrenia port around 11:58 to 12:30 local time on Sunday morning, with the original destination being the Tasucu port in Mersin, Turkey. However, shortly after departure, it started taking in water and capsized.
Survivors recounted that during the voyage, the ship experienced severe turbulence, causing damage and ruptures to the bow, leading to seawater flooding in, resulting in the tragic outcome.
Kyrenia is a popular tourist destination in Northern Cyprus, and the route affected by this incident is one of the many daily sea shuttle routes between Northern Cyprus and Turkey.