Deadly catamaran shipwreck off the coast of Kyrenia

On the afternoon of August 30, 2026, the passenger catamaran 'Filo Jet' capsized 4 nautical miles north of Kyrenia. Out of 267 people on board, including 259 passengers and 8 crew members, 242 were rescued, 8 people died, and 18 remain missing, although some sources report 23 missing persons. The vessel now lies at a depth of 514 meters.

Survivors have reported severe safety failures, claiming there were insufficient life jackets and that some passengers were trapped behind locked doors during the panic. Local authorities have placed the captain and seven crew members under detention as part of a formal investigation. Turkish authorities, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have pledged to assist in the investigation to determine if there was negligence.

Questions have been raised regarding why the vessel was cleared for departure despite initial weather warnings. Reports indicate the 'transport ministry' initially denied the ship clearance due to poor weather before reversing the decision an hour later. The Turkish-occupied administration has declared a three-day mourning period ending on September 2. Search and rescue operations involving Turkish naval and aerial assets are ongoing, with a specialized vessel expected to assist in deep-water recovery of the wreckage and the ship's black box.