At least seven people lost their lives and 23 remain unaccounted for after a ferry carrying approximately 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of North Cyprus on Sunday. Survivors were seen clinging to the overturned vessel as rescue operations intensified.
The privately operated ferry departed Kyrenia port at 12:30 pm and soon began taking on water for reasons yet to be determined. It was en route to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province, located in the eastern Mediterranean.
The incident occurred just off Kyrenia, a well-known holiday destination popular with both locals and tourists. The ferry, a catamaran, was part of a fleet providing daily shuttle services between North Cyprus and Turkey.
Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman confirmed that 237 individuals had been rescued alive, while seven bodies had been recovered and 23 people were still missing. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life during a live broadcast.
Video footage captured passengers wearing red life jackets, either sitting or standing atop the overturned ferry as coastguard and private vessels rushed to assist in bringing survivors ashore.
“We have yet to locate 23 individuals. Search and rescue teams are working tirelessly to find them,” Erhurman stated. He added that if people remain trapped inside the vessel, accessing them is currently challenging, prompting the use of advanced technologies to aid the rescue efforts.
In a significant development, the region had experienced severe storms the previous day, which had already caused one fatality when a sailboat crashed onto rocks in the island’s southeast. Although the storm had passed, the weather was deemed suitable for travel at the time of the ferry’s departure.
Erhurman acknowledged the shock felt by the community, noting that such a tragedy was unprecedented and that all possible measures were being taken to manage the crisis from a dedicated center established near the site.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Unal Ustel emphasized that the rescue operation was a top priority. He assured that all state institutions, security forces, health teams, and search and rescue units were fully coordinated and actively engaged in the effort.
The Turkish Cypriot Interior Ministry reported that the ferry, named ‘FILOJET,’ was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members. The vessel began taking on water approximately four nautical miles from Kyrenia while traveling toward Tasucu.
Rescue resources deployed included four Turkish Cypriot coast guard vessels, a civilian passenger boat, five Turkish coastguard vessels, and two helicopters, all working collaboratively to manage the emergency response.
