Six Dead and Over 100 Missing After Passenger Ferry Capsizes off Northern Cyprus

A passenger ferry operated by Filo Jet capsized off the coast of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Sunday afternoon, killing at least six people and leaving more than 100 others unaccounted for.

The ferry was carrying 267 people when it departed Kyrenia for Tasucu, a port on the southern coast of Turkey. Shortly after leaving, it began taking on water some distance from shore. The captain turned the ferry back toward port, but it lost its balance and went down about two kilometres north of Kyrenia on 30 August 2026.

The TRNC prime minister confirmed six deaths. By mid-afternoon, 159 survivors had been brought ashore, leaving around 102 people still to be accounted for. Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul described the situation as serious.

Turkish Cypriot coastguard boats and a rescue helicopter reached the scene quickly. Private fishing boats in the area joined the effort. Dozens of ambulances were positioned at the port to receive survivors.

Northern Cyprus cancelled all Victory Day commemorative events that afternoon.

MarineRadar data shows that tracking activity for FILO JET ran at 16 times its usual level in the 24 hours of the incident, as people searched for updates on the ferry.