At least seven people are dead after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, according to Turkish media reports.
The vessel, a catamaran-style ferry operated by the Filo Denizcilik company, went down in adverse weather conditions just 15 minutes after departing from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, on its way to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province, Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel told the state-run TRT news channel.
Ustel said the ship began taking in water shortly after leaving port and issued a distress call, but rescue efforts have been complicated by the conditions. So far, 237 people have been rescued, he said, with a search ongoing for another 24 people.
Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul confirmed the ship belonged to Filo Denizcilik and said it sank off the coast of Diana beach on Cyprus’s northern coast. TRT reported the ferry started taking in water about 7.5 kilometers (4 nautical miles) from shore.
Rescue Efforts Underway
The prime minister’s comments to TRT offered the most detailed picture yet of the disaster, which unfolded on a route commonly used by passengers traveling between northern Cyprus and southern Turkey. The area is part of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Ankara.
Rescue teams were still scouring the waters off the northern coast on Sunday evening, with the search centered on the roughly two dozen people still unaccounted for. Ustel described the operation as ongoing but did not provide details on the nationalities of those aboard or the circumstances of the capsizing beyond the initial water intake.
The cause of the flooding has not been officially determined. The ferry’s operator has not yet issued a public statement.
Sunday’s disaster is one of the deadliest maritime incidents in the region in recent years. The route between Kyrenia and Tasucu is a busy one, especially during the summer months when tourists and residents alike rely on ferries to cross the Mediterranean.
Officials have not said whether weather warnings were in place at the time of departure. The prime minister’s account that the ferry “faced adverse weather conditions” suggests conditions deteriorated quickly after the vessel left port.
Local media reports said the ferry was carrying “nearly 270 passengers and crew,” a figure consistent with the prime minister’s comments. The discrepancy between the number of people aboard and the combined total of rescued and missingâ261âhas not been addressed by authorities.
The search for the missing continues as families await word on their loved ones. The Cypriot and Turkish governments have not yet released a full manifest or list of survivors.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Source: www.breitbart.com â https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/08/30/ferry-carrying-270-people-capsizes-off-coast-of-cyprus-leaving-at-least-seven-dead/