At least six people have died after a passenger ferry carrying 267 people overturned shortly after departing Kyrenia on Sunday afternoon.
The vessel, identified as the catamaran Express owned by Filo Jet, was about two kilometres off the coast when it capsized. Initial reports from Turkish Cypriot media indicate that the aging fibreglass structure suffered severe damage, causing the ship to break in two. Questions have also been raised regarding whether the materials used in its construction were suitable for maritime navigation.
Turkish Cypriot “prime minister” Ünal Üstel confirmed that six bodies have been recovered and 172 people rescued so far, with search and rescue operations ongoing.
Kyrenia “mayor” Murat Şenkul told CNN Türk that 159 passengers had been picked up, while around 100 people remained unaccounted for during initial headcounts. Authorities clarified that unaccounted passengers are not automatically presumed dead or officially missing, as many are floating in life jackets awaiting pickup.
Three coast guard vessels and three private boats were deployed to the location, supported by a fleet of ambulances waiting on standby at the port to transport survivors.
Earlier, the Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia, Ali Murat Başçeri, confirmed the casualties, stating that emergency responders had brought a large number of passengers ashore safely. Üstel added that civil defence and coast guard resources remained fully mobilised on site and that public updates would follow as the situation develops.
YÜZLERCE YOLCU TERS DÖNEN GEMİNİN ÜZERİNDE KURTARILMAYI BEKLİYOR!
— Özgür Gazete Kıbrıs (@CyprusNewspaper) August 30, 2026
Girne Limanı'ndan çıkış yaptıktan kısa süre sonra 2-3 km açıkta alabora olan 250'den fazla kişinin bulunduğu Filo Jet'e ait Express Yolcu Gemisi'ndeki yolcular ters dönen geminin üzerinde kurtarılmayı bekliyor!… pic.twitter.com/IwYiaQs3pY
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