KYRENIA — The Filo Jet ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, killing at least eight people and leaving 18 missing. Two hundred and thirty-seven people were rescued from the vessel.

The ferry sank to a depth of 514 metres (1,686 feet). Divers from Turkey assisted in the search for missing passengers. Four Turkish Cypriot coast guard vessels, five Turkish coastguard vessels, one civilian passenger boat, and two helicopters were deployed to the scene.

The ferry captain and seven other crew members were arrested and taken into custody. Witnesses stated the captain was among the first to abandon the ship. Survivors reported that the bow of the vessel burst open before it capsized.

Murat Senkul, Mayor of Kyrenia, addressed the incident in an interview. "The situation is very serious," Senkul said. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel announced an inquiry into the disaster and offered condolences via social media.

"I offer my condolences from Allah for those who have passed away, and wish patience and strength to their families and loved ones. I pray for a swift recovery for the injured. All institutions of our state are on the ground. We are continuing the search and rescue efforts with the utmost care and closely following developments," Üstel said. Numan Kurtulmuş extended condolences to those who lost their lives in the incident.

The ferry belonged to the Filo Denizcilik company, which operates multiple vessels on the route. As of 2025, the company's fleet included at least six other ferries. The Kyrenia-Tasucu ferry route has seen an average of 120 daily crossings per month, according to the TRNC Department of Transport for 2025. In the past decade, there have been no major ferry disasters on the Kyrenia-Tasucu route, making the 2026 incident the most severe in terms of loss of life since 1974.

Why It Matters

Harmanci described the disaster as the worst ever witnessed in the 43 years since the territory declared independence. North Cyprus is a breakaway state recognized only by Turkey. The incident marks a disruption to a high-traffic maritime corridor that connects the region to Turkey.

Timeline

On 15 November 1983, the Constitution of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was proclaimed. On Sunday, 2026-08-30, the ferry departed from the port of Kyrenia in northern Cyprus bound for the port of Taşucu in Turkey. Later that day, the ferry Filo Jet capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus. The capsizing occurred approximately 4 nautical miles (7.5 kilometers) off the coast of Kyrenia.

During the response, Murat Senkul said, "The situation is very serious." Mehmet Harmanci said, "There are 23 still missing and others who have also been injured although we don’t know to what degree. The wounded are being sent to hospital here in (northern) Nicosia and we are gathering warm clothes for them." Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said, "I offer my condolences from Allah for those who have passed away, and wish patience and strength to their families and loved ones. We are continuing the search and rescue efforts with the utmost care and closely following developments."

What's New

Additional reporting indicates that Filo Jet was previously involved in a minor incident in 2019 when it had to make an emergency stop due to engine failure while traveling between Kyrenia and Taşucu. Filo Denizcilik, the company that owns the Filo Jet, has a history of operating multiple vessels on the Kyrenia-Tasucu route, with its fleet including at least six other ferries as of 2025. The depth of 514 meters where the Filo Jet sank is among the deepest points in the Kyrenia Strait, making underwater recovery efforts extremely challenging and time-consuming.

In the past five years, there have been three other maritime incidents involving ferries operating between Kyrenia and Taşucu, including one in 2021 where a vessel ran aground due to poor visibility. The Kyrenia-Tasucu ferry route has seen an average of 120 daily crossings per month, according to the TRNC Department of Transport for 2025, showing the high volume of traffic on this route. Murat Senkul said, "The situation is very serious."