Survivors of a ferry that sank off the coast of northern Cyprus have told how the captain ignored their warnings that the boat was taking on water and abandoned ship as it capsized, killing eight people.
Searches are continuing through the night for around 18 people who are still missing after the ship, carrying 270 passengers, capsized and sank.
Shortly after the doomed vessel departed from Kyrenia just before 12pm on Sunday, passengers realised that there was a problem.
They had discovered that the boat had begun to take on water and warned the captain and crew that they needed to return to port.
Unmoved by their concerns, the ferry continued on towards the Turkish port of Tasucu.
Fearing for their safety as the boat continued out to sea amid a storm, the terrified passengers scrambled to find lifejackets, only to realise they were in short supply.
They heard a blast come from the ship’s bow and the vessel began to capsize, leading to an exodus of passengers who frantically jumped into the sea to escape, many without any buoyancy aids.
Among the first to abandon ship, according to survivors, was the captain himself, who was arrested alongside seven of his crew members later on Sunday.
A rescue mission will continue into the night after a ferry carrying around 270 passengers capsized shortly after departing from the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday
Footage shows the upside-down ferry in the water, with people wearing life vests on top of its orange hull
Some can be seen sitting on the outer hull of the upturned vessel in life jackets
Former President of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar meets with families waiting at the port entrance
Families gather at a hospital, as 18 people remain missing from the vessel
One rescued passenger said he spent an hour-and-a-half in the water before being rescued.
The man, aged in his 50s and not named, told local Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) television that the front of the boat ‘exploded’ and the side windows ‘blew out’ as the boat took on more and more water.
‘Those who could, got out,’ he said, adding that he saw the captain among the first to abandon ship ‘without organising anything’.
Several rescued passengers told local media that a blast had gone off at the bow before it rolled over.
Another witness, in his 30s, corroborated reports of an explosion. He said he had reported water leaks to the captain.
‘The seats started to float, the captain kept going, and the bow exploded,’ he said.
As the boat went down, elderly people were reportedly left trapped inside the vessel and were unable to escape in time.
Video footage showed chaotic scenes on board, as life jackets were in short supply, leading to some jumping into the water without any buoyancy aids.
Other clips showed some of the survivors sat atop the ship’s overturned hull, as others desperately awaited rescue in the surrounding waters.
By late afternoon, the ship had completely sunk, settling on the seabed at a depth of 514 metres (1,686ft), according to authorities.
They said divers from Turkey would be assisting the search.
‘If there are people still inside the vessel, reaching them does not appear easy at the moment,’ Tufan Erhurman, president of Northern Cyprus, said. ‘Efforts are being made using other technologies to reach them as well.’
A major rescue operation remains ongoing and will continue into the night, after Turkish-Cypriot coastguard boats and rescue helicopters rushed to the scene.
Ambulances were also dispatched to take survivors to local hospitals.
Crowds of relatives have gathered at Kyrenia Hospital on Sunday evening, anxiously awaiting news of the condition of their loved ones.
Many of the victims and survivors are believed to be Turkish nationals who took the ferry back to their country.
‘The vessel had been moving very badly. It was constantly lifting out of the water and slamming back down. It was shaking violently,’ survivor Efe Multici told CNN Turk.
He added: ‘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.’
The ferry had been carrying a total of 267 people, according to authorities, of which 161 were rescued and taken to hospital and 76 have returned home.
The government of the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has declared a three-day mourning period over the tragedy.
Unal Ustel, prime minister of the TRNC, confirmed the ship’s captain and seven crew members had been arrested.
Declaring it the ‘biggest maritime disaster’ in the country’s history, he said rescue operations would continue until all of the missing people are found.
He added: ‘We are deeply saddened. There has been loss of life and there are injuries.
‘We are on the ground with all our resources.’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his condolences and said his government was coordinating with Northern Cyprus in the search-and-rescue effort.
‘We hope we’ll be receiving positive news,’ Mr Erdogan said on Sunday in Ankara while speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Turkish Military Academy.
A Foreign Office spokesman told the Daily Mail: ‘We are liaising with local authorities following a ferry incident in northern Cyprus.’
Currently, it is unknown whether any British people were onboard.
Survivors pictured on board a rescue boat heading back to the shore where ambulances were waiting
The Filo Jet vessel is a high-speed craft, 40 metres long and ten metres wide, that sails under the flag of Turkey, according to Marine Traffic (stock image)
A helicopter brings survivors ashore after they were rescued from the sea
Reports suggest the vessel began taking on water between two to four miles off the shore
The distance by sea between Kyrenia and Taşucu is approximately 40 miles, with the crossing relatively short compared to other Mediterranean ferry routes.
The Cyprus Department of Meteorology’s forecast for the north coast today described the sea as generally slight – meaning the water had small, gentle waves.
After around two miles offshore, ships become more exposed and can move noticeably with the waves.
The mayor of Kyrenia, Murat Senkul, said the situation is ‘very serious’ and rescue teams are still trying to reach 23 people.
He said the ship belonged to the Filo Denizcilik ferry company and sank off the coast of Diana beach on the island’s northern coast.
The TRNC, which is recognised only by Turkey, controls the northern third of the island of Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974.
Ankara occupied that part of the island that year in response to an Athens-engineered Greek-Cypriot coup seeking union with Greece. The TRNC today is served with regular air and sea links to Turkey.
Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said in a post on X Sunday that the government had expressed its readiness to assist in search-and-rescue efforts with all available means.
‘In these trying times, our thoughts are with those who lost their lives, those who were injured and all those who are living this tragedy,’ Mr Letymbiotis said.
‘At such times, the protection of human life is paramount.’
Survivors arrive on shore after being rescued from the sea after the boat capsized off Kyrenia, northern Cyprus
Rescue boats bring passengers ashore from the capsized ferry on Sunday afternoon
A statement on the ferry company Filo Denizcilik’s website reads: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred on August 30, 2026, on our vessel, Filo Jet, in Girne.
‘Our company’s sole and most urgent priority at this time is the safety of our 259 passengers and crew on board.
‘From the moment the incident occurred, a crisis management team was established within our company, and all our resources were mobilised to the field in full coordination with all authorised search and rescue teams. Search and rescue and evacuation operations are continuing uninterrupted and with the utmost care.
‘We share the great concern of the families and loved ones of our passengers. To provide passengers’ families with immediate and accurate information, a special crisis and information hotline has been established.
‘Our prayers and all our strength are with the passengers, crew, and rescue teams on board the ship.’
