18 Searched After Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:13:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Rescuers hunt for 18 missing passengers after a high‑speed ferry overturned near Kyrenia, leaving eight dead, families awaiting news and authorities probing the cause.

A 40‑metre Filo Jet high‑speed passenger ferry left Kyrenia bound for Turkey and capsized in the Mediterranean, sinking at 514 metres and producing eight deaths and 18 missing. Rescuers have combed wreckage and the sea, while survivors queue at the port, awaiting family updates. The captain, seven crew members and others have been detained amid investigations into the wreck, with authorities targeting weather conditions and a recalled black box recorder. The incident highlights the risky maritime traffic around the divided island of Cyprus and underscores the need for stringent safety protocols.

18 Searched After Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus

Rescuers continue to search for 18 missing passengers after a high‑speed ferry capsized off Kyrenia on Sunday, leaving eight dead and dozens still missing.

Wreckage and debris litter the sea near the Turkish‑controlled northern coast of Cyprus. The vessel, a 40‑metre Filo Jet owned by Filo Denizcilik, departed the popular resort of Kyrenia at 12:30 local time, en route to Tasucu in Turkey, but encountered two large waves that caused it to overturn about an hour later.

Officials say the ferry sank at a depth of 514 metres. While eight fatalities have been recovered and 19 passengers are hospitalized, 18 others are still unaccounted for. The captain, seven crew members and a passenger have been arrested, and warrants have been issued for seven additional individuals.

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel declared a three‑day period of national mourning. The wreck’s black box recorder, crucial for determining the cause, is targeted for retrieval.

Families, including Ayten Bicer who lost her 12‑year‑old daughter Miray in the crash, await news at the port in Kyrenia. The incident underscores the perilous conditions for high‑speed passenger vessels traversing the Mediterranean and calls for more stringent safety measures in the region.