7 dead as passenger ferry capsizes off Turkish Cyprus

A passenger ferry carrying 267 people capsized off the coast of Kyrenia, Turkish Cyprus, on August 30, resulting in seven deaths and prompting a large-scale rescue operation. The vessel, which was en route to Taşucu in southern Türkiye, began taking on water shortly after departing Kyrenia Port at around noon. According to Turkish Cypriot Public Works and Transport Minister Erhan Arıklı, the captain noticed the water ingress and attempted to turn the vessel back toward the port, but the ferry capsized about four miles offshore before reaching safety. Search-and-rescue teams arrived at the scene approximately 15 to 20 minutes after receiving the distress call. Coast guard boats, helicopters, and civilian vessels in the area joined the operation, helping to evacuate passengers to safer locations. A nearby passenger ship and Turkish naval vessels also assisted in the effort. The Filo Denizcilik-operated catamaran, which had departed Kyrenia for Taşucu, was hit by a first wave, and as the captain tried to regain control, a second wave caused the vessel to begin taking on water, leading to its capsizing. Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel stated that the vessel carried 259 passengers and eight crew members. He mentioned that the trip had been postponed until the current day due to adverse weather conditions. Üstel noted that the first wave struck the vessel, and as the captain attempted to save it, the ship started taking on water after a second wave. Video footage captured people in red life jackets sitting or standing on the overturned vessel as authorities scrambled to bring them to shore. Authorities at Kyrenia Port prepared for the arrival of evacuated passengers, placing ambulances on standby and setting up a field medical tent to provide initial treatment. Those in serious condition would be transferred to hospitals immediately. Arıklı emphasized that sea conditions in the area were rough, with high waves, and the exact cause of the accident would be determined following an investigation. He also noted that there were both seriously injured passengers and those in stable condition among those rescued. Türkiye’s ambassador to Lefkoşa, Ali Murat Başçeri, confirmed that there had been fatalities, stating that the majority of the 259 passengers had been rescued. Later, Üstel reported that 237 people had been rescued and seven had died, with search-and-rescue operations continuing. The TRNC Interior Ministry dispatched five coast guard vessels and two coast guard helicopters to the area, while the Turkish Naval Forces Command assigned six naval assets to support the rescue operation. The passenger vessel AKGÜNLER 3 was also deployed to assist with the evacuation. Following the capsizing, a “Crisis Desk” chaired by TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel convened, according to a statement from the TRNC Prime Ministry. TRNC President Tufan Erhürman visited the scene and received updates from the Crisis Desk. The meeting included ministers of transport, health, interior, finance, and agriculture, as well as the commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces, the commander of the Security Forces, the director general of police, and the head of the Civil Defense Organization. The meeting decided to continue search-and-rescue operations without interruption, mobilizing all available resources, closely monitoring the treatment of the injured, and ensuring that all state institutions continued to operate in full coordination. The focus remains on recovering survivors and providing medical care to the injured. As the search continues, authorities emphasize their commitment to prioritizing human life and ensuring the safe return of all passengers.