Death toll rises to 12 following ferry sinking off Kyrenia

A ferry sank off the coast of Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, on Sunday, August 30, 2026, leading to a mounting death toll that reached 12 by Friday, September 4. The tragedy began with the recovery of victims from the wreckage, including Ismail Kurt, whose funeral was held on Friday in Nicosia, attended by prominent officials such as Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and 'prime minister' Unal Ustel.

Following the recovery of two additional bodies on Friday morning, officials identified the deceased as Serife Ozdemir and Nazmiye Ozbolat. The 'prime minister' confirmed that the families of both women have been notified. Search and recovery efforts inside the ferry wreckage have been ongoing throughout the week, with the death count rising steadily as more bodies were extracted from the submerged vessel. Authorities are continuing to manage the aftermath of the disaster, with official investigations expected to follow the conclusion of the recovery operations.