Death toll reaches 13 following ferry sinking off Kyrenia coast

A passenger ferry sank off the coast of Kyrenia on Sunday, August 30, 2026, leading to an ongoing search and rescue operation. By Saturday, September 5, authorities confirmed that the death toll had risen to 13, following the recovery of a thirteenth body from the wreckage. Among the recently identified victims are Ismail Kurt, Serife Ozdemir, and Nazmiye Ozbolat, whose identities were confirmed by Turkish Cypriot 'prime minister' Unal Ustel after recovery efforts by emergency teams.

The recovery operations involve intensive, round-the-clock efforts supported by Turkey and local services. While 13 individuals have been confirmed deceased, 15 people remain missing. Families of the unaccounted passengers have been maintaining a vigil at the new port of Kyrenia since the accident occurred. The funeral for Ismail Kurt was held on Friday in Nicosia, attended by several high-ranking officials, including Tufan Erhurman and Unal Ustel.

Search and recovery efforts remain ongoing, with the latest recovered body sent to the Dr Burhan Nalbantoglu hospital for identification. Officials continue to monitor the situation, promising full use of available resources to locate the remaining missing individuals.