- The ferry carrying 267 passengers and crew capsized after leaving Kyrenia, a port in breakaway northern Cyprus, for Tasucu in Turkey on Sunday afternoon; rescue teams searched for 20 people missing, including a 12-year-old girl and her 6-year-old brother.
- At least eight people died when the ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus.
- Survivors described moments of terror and panic as they scrambled to escape the sinking vessel.
- The ferry's eight crew and a Filo Denizcilik company director appeared in a northern Cypriot court to face charges of causing death through negligence and carelessness.
- Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel described the incident as the worst maritime disaster in Cypriot history and stated that port authorities who authorized the voyage had been dismissed.
- Survivors said the ship, the Filo Jet, began listing and taking on water after loud noises from below decks; the crew initially said it was just a loose gasket causing a leak.
- Rescuer Muhammed Ozcelik said his boat was one of the first on the scene and began hauling people from the sea, taking far more than capacity as people fought for their lives.
At least eight people have died and 20 remain missing, including a 12-year-old girl and her 6-year-old brother, after the ferry Filo Jet capsized off northern Cyprus. Survivors recounted harrowing moments of panic as they attempted to escape the sinking vessel, which was carrying 267 passengers and crew.1289
The ferry began taking on water after loud noises were heard from below decks. Serkan Kunduraci, a survivor, described how the crew downplayed the situation, claiming it was just a loose gasket causing a leak. As the ship tilted, he witnessed children and others drowning in the sea, stating, “I saw some who didn’t know how to swim die in the sea.”
Survivors reported a crush of people at the exits, with many unable to find life jackets. Deniz Ozpolat recalled, “They shut the doors on us and we couldn’t get out.” Rescuers, including local water sports operator Muhammed Ozcelik, described the chaos, saying, “People were fighting for their lives.”1011
The incident has been labeled the worst maritime disaster in Cypriot history. Authorities have suspended operations of the ferry company, Filo Denizcilik, and the crew faces charges of negligence. Unal Ustel, the prime minister of northern Cyprus, vowed that “even the slightest negligence will be uncovered.”567
An inspection of the submerged ferry is complicated by its depth of 500 meters (1,640 feet), but a remotely operated submarine will be deployed to search for bodies.
“The ferry, carrying 267 passengers and crew, capsized after leaving Kyrenia for Tasucu; among the missing are a 12-year-old girl and her brother, 6. Eight crew and a company director face charges of causing death through negligence, while the prime minister has dismissed port authorities and suspended all operations.”
