Ferry sinks off the coast of Kyrenia resulting in eight confirmed deaths

On August 30, 2026, the passenger catamaran Filo Jet, operated by Filo Denizcilik, sank approximately four to five nautical miles off the coast of Kyrenia shortly after departing for Tasucu, Turkey. The vessel was carrying 267 people, including 259 passengers and eight crew members. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched, resulting in the rescue of approximately 242 individuals, while eight deaths have been confirmed. Seventeen people remain missing, and intense search efforts are ongoing with the support of Turkish resources, including vessels and specialized divers.

The Republic of Cyprus, through its Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), offered assistance via the United Nations peacekeeping force, but the Turkish Cypriot authorities declined the offer. Survivors reported that the vessel began taking on water shortly after departure and alleged that the crew ignored early warnings and abandoned the ship before the passengers. In response to the tragedy, which Turkish Cypriot ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel described as a major maritime disaster, the captain and the seven other crew members were arrested. Authorities have launched an official investigation into the incident, noting that the vessel had recently undergone inspection by 'Türk Loydu' two months prior. The wreck has settled on the seabed at a depth of over 500 meters, complicating potential access to the interior of the ship.