Authorities in northern Cyprus have arrested the captain and seven crew members of the passenger ferry "Filo Jet" following a deadly sinking that occurred Sunday evening. The vessel, carrying 267 passengers and crew, capsized approximately 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) off the coast.
Local authorities declared three days of national mourning and announced a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the disaster, including efforts to recover the ship's black box from the seabed.
Turkish rescue forces and dive teams are conducting extensive searches at a depth of 514 meters (1,686 feet) in an attempt to locate those still unaccounted for. The operation involves ships, helicopters, aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. The significant water depth in the area is hampering access to the vessel's interior compartments, while anxious family members await updates at crisis centers and near the port.
Survivors rescued from the scene described harrowing moments that included powerful waves striking the vessel and rapid water ingress from the bow area. Footage from inside the ferry and from the sea showed passengers wearing life jackets moving frantically through corridors, then clinging to the capsized hull until being pulled from the water by civilian vessels and coast guard units.
At least 8 people perished in the incident, 241 passengers and crew were rescued, and approximately 18 people remain missing. The vessel departed Sunday, August 30, 2026, around noon from Kyrenia port bound for Taşucu, Turkey, after a delay caused by stormy weather conditions.
