Lajme flash
Cyprus tragedy deepens, death toll rises to 8! Captain and crew arrested
2026-08-31 09:39:00 / BOTA
The tragic toll from the sinking of a passenger ferry off the coast of northern Cyprus is deepening. At least eight people have died, while 18 others are still missing.
The serious accident occurred on Sunday, shortly after the ferry departed from the coastal city of Kyrenia, bound for Turkey. There were 259 passengers and eight crew members on board.
The search and rescue operation continues at sea, with the participation of Turkish coast guard vessels and helicopters. Most of the people on board have been rescued, while teams continue to search for the missing.
According to initial reports, the ferry encountered difficult weather conditions shortly after departure. The Prime Minister of the Turkish administration in northern Cyprus, Unal Ustel, stated that the ship was hit by two powerful waves.
The captain attempted to regain control after the first impact, but a second wave hit the ship and it began to take on water. Within minutes, the situation spiraled out of control and the ferry capsized.
The vehicle had left Kyrenia at around 12:30 local time and then completely sank. Authorities are also trying to find the black box, which could help shed light on the exact causes of the accident.
As part of the investigation, the captain and seven crew members have been detained by authorities.
Ustel has stated that every element of the incident will be investigated and that no negligence will be overlooked.
"No one will be spared, regardless of who is and who is found responsible," he declared.
Transport Minister Erhan Arıklı said that around 100 passengers had been brought ashore in the first stages of the operation.
One of the people who participated in the rescue operation, Mustafa Koç, told the BBC that he had managed to save around 65 people with his boat.
Koç raised questions about the decision to launch the ferry in such sea conditions.
"The sea was quite rough. It wasn't safe for them," he declared.
According to the witness, the ferry had arrived in Kyrenia the day before and had damage to the front.
The vessel, a Filo Jet, was about 40 meters long and 10 meters wide and was sailing under the Turkish flag. The private company Filo Denizcilik, which operates the vessel, said it was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.
Meanwhile, authorities have set up a hotline for the families of the passengers. The nationalities of all those on board have not yet been fully disclosed.
The search for the 18 missing people continues uninterrupted, while authorities are investigating whether heavy sea conditions and other factors contributed to the ferry's sinking.
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