Rescuers are continuing their search for 18 passengers of a ferry that capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday, leaving at least eight dead and 19 injured. The vessel, which was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members, began taking on water shortly after departing the coastal town of Kyrenia. The ship, a high-speed 40-meter-long Filo Jet vessel operated by the Turkish-flagged company Filo Denizcilik, sank to a depth of 514 meters (1,686 feet). Debris, including a black wheelie suitcase and a sheet of steel, remains scattered across the water. The ferry, which was scheduled to travel to Turkey on Saturday, departed Kyrenia at approximately 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT) en route to the Turkish port of Tasucu. Its journey was delayed due to poor weather conditions. According to Ünal Üstel, the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the boat was struck by two waves before it capsized. While the captain was recovering from the first wave, a second wave hit, causing the vessel to take on water. The TRNC has declared a three-day period of national mourning in response to the tragedy. Among the missing are Ayten Bicer’s two children, her 12-year-old daughter Miray and six-year-old son Mehmet Asaf. Bicer recounted how Miray slipped from her grasp as they clung to the overturned boat. She described feeling her daughter’s hand and hearing her plead, “Don’t let go.” Despite her efforts to hold on, Bicer lost her grip due to a suitcase falling on her and her oily-soled shoes slipping. She and her husband, Hayri, remain at the port in Kyrenia alongside other families awaiting news of their loved ones. The search and rescue operation involves divers from Turkey, helicopters, and coastguard boats. Authorities have detained the captain and seven crew members for questioning, with warrants issued for a further seven individuals. Local authorities estimate that between 18 and 19 people are still missing, though numbers vary slightly between reports. The ship’s black box recorder is being sought to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the capsizing. The ferry’s condition prior to the incident appears to have raised concerns. Mustafa Koc, a local fisherman who rescued around 65 people with his boat, criticized the decision to depart despite rough seas. He stated that the crew should have waited for calmer conditions. Koc noted that the boat had arrived in Kyrenia on Saturday with damage to its front section. The ferry’s operator, Filo Denizcilik, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and has established a hotline to provide information to affected families. The TRNC, which controls the northern third of Cyprus and is only recognized by Turkey, continues to coordinate the search and rescue efforts. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended condolences to Turkish Cypriots and emphasized that efforts to locate the missing continue without interruption. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in maritime safety, particularly in the region where weather conditions can rapidly deteriorate. As the search proceeds, the focus remains on locating the remaining missing persons and determining the causes of the disaster.
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