Eight people died and 18 are missing after a passenger ferry carrying 267 people capsized off Northern Cyprus.
A tragic sea disaster occurred off the coast of Northern Cyprus on Sunday, August 30, 2026, when a passenger ferry carrying nearly 270 people turned over and sank into the sea.
Official reports confirm that at least eight people died, while emergency workers rescued 241 survivors. Search and rescue teams, supported by sea vessels and helicopters from both Northern Cyprus and Turkey, continue working through the night to locate eighteen passengers who remain missing in the deep water.
The vessel involved in the crash was a passenger ferry named the Filo Jet, owned by the company Filo Denizcilik. The trip began at the port town of Kyrenia, a popular tourist destination in Northern Cyprus, and was heading across the Mediterranean Sea toward the port of Tasucu in southern Turkey.
Shortly after leaving the harbor around midday, the ferry suddenly began taking on heavy amounts of sea water about four miles off the coast.
Within minutes, the ship shook violently, lost balance, and rolled over onto its side, dropping passengers into the open sea.
Passengers put on life jackets and climbed onto the exposed belly of the upside down ship to wait for rescue boats to arrive.
The main reason why the ferry sank so fast is still being carefully checked by police and maritime investigators. Passengers reported that the vessel started jumping up and down violently on the waves before a heavy impact broke open part of the front section, allowing seawater to fill the boat very fast.
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After the rescue operation began, police officers arrested the ferry captain and seven crew members to investigate if human mistakes or unsafe actions caused the tragic accident.
The terrifying moment the vessel hit the water and began to sink, 1 survivor shared how fast the tragedy happened out at sea.
Recounting the frightening ordeal to reporters, survivor Efe Multici stated that “the vessel had been moving very badly. It was constantly lifting out of the water and slamming back down. It was shaking violently”.
Detailing the exact moment water rushed inside the boat, survivor Efe Multici added that “three or four minutes later, the ferry leapt high into the air, then came crashing down. The front left side burst open and water started pouring in”.
Giving an update on the search efforts and the ongoing rescue mission, top government leaders promised that rescue teams will not stop searching until every single missing person is accounted for.
Speaking to journalists after an emergency crisis meeting, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman stated that “search and rescue efforts will continue until the very end, until all people are reached”.
Three days of national mourning have been declared across Northern Cyprus as emergency ships continue searching the deep sea.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
