Rescue operations continued on Tuesday following the capsizing of a passenger ferry off the northern coast of Cyprus on Sunday, a disaster that has resulted in eight confirmed deaths and left 18 people missing. The ferry, identified as the Filo Jet, departed from the northern port town of Kyrenia (Girne) around midday en route to Taşucu on the Turkish mainland but capsized shortly after beginning its journey, approximately four nautical miles from the coast.
Of the 267 passengers and crew aboard, 241 have been rescued. Authorities said almost all were Turkish or Turkish Cypriot nationals, although the exact nationalities of the deceased and missing have not been officially detailed. Survivors described hearing several loud noises, including what some referred to as a blast, shortly before the vessel began taking on water and ultimately capsized. Some passengers reported that the ferry started to leak due to what the crew described as a loose gasket, but witness accounts contradicted official statements, with passengers indicating their concerns about the vessel's seaworthiness were initially dismissed.
Several survivors recounted harrowing scenes of panic and struggle to find life jackets amid insufficient safety equipment. One survivor described how many people had to jump into the water without lifebuoys or life jackets, leading to what was described as a “fight for survival.” Another survivor witnessed children and elderly passengers drowning, highlighting the chaos onboard as the ferry sank rapidly within minutes of capsizing.
In response to the disaster, Turkish Cypriot authorities have launched a formal investigation. The ferry’s captain and seven crew members, along with additional personnel, were detained and appeared before a local magistrate, facing allegations of gross negligence. Authorities indicated that all responsible parties, including the owners and shareholders of the privately owned ferry company, have been ordered to appear in court. Reports emerged accusing some crew members of abandoning the vessel early during the incident, though these claims are under investigation.
The ferry, a 26-year-old catamaran-style vessel, now rests at a depth of approximately 514 to 514–514 meters (figures vary slightly between sources) off the coast. Turkish naval authorities are deploying the TCG Işin, a deep-sea search and rescue vessel capable of operating at depths of up to 3,000 meters, to aid in locating missing persons and retrieving the ferry’s voyage data recorder (black box). Recovery of the black box is seen as critical to determining the exact cause of the disaster.
The Turkish Cypriot administration has declared three days of national mourning. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and the self-declared state’s president, Tufan Erhürman, have pledged to maintain intensive, around-the-clock search and rescue efforts alongside Turkish coastguard and military support. International condolences have been expressed, with notable humanitarian contributions, including a donation from the Anglo-Cypriot entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou to support the families of the victims.
The incident adds to the ongoing complexity of the divided island of Cyprus, which has been split since 1974 following a Turkish military intervention in response to a Greek Cypriot coup attempting union with Greece. The northern region, supported by Turkey, declared independence in 1983 but remains recognized only by Turkey. The tragedy has underscored concerns about infrastructure and safety standards in the area’s maritime transport.