Kyrenia – What began as a routine passenger ferry crossing from the popular holiday resort of Kyrenia to the Turkish port of Taşucu turned into a scene of sheer terror on Sunday afternoon.
The high-speed catamaran Filo Jet capsized just a few nautical miles offshore, plunging hundreds of passengers into chaos in the eastern Mediterranean.
(Source: bbc.co.uk)
The privately owned vessel, operated by Filo Denizcilik, had left Kyrenia harbour around midday local time carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members – a total of 267 people.
Many were tourists and locals heading to Turkey after the service had been delayed from the previous day due to poor weather.
Within about 15 to 20 minutes of departure, roughly four nautical miles (about 7.5 kilometres) off the coast near Diana Beach, the boat began taking on water.
(Source: reuters.com)
Survivors described a harrowing sequence of events.
The sea conditions, while officially considered suitable after Saturday’s fierce storms that had battered Cyprus, still featured significant waves.
According to Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, the ferry was struck by two successive waves.
“While the captain of the vessel was trying to recover from the first wave, a second wave hit and it began taking on water,” he told Turkish media outlet TRT.
(Source: bbc.co.uk)
One survivor, Efe Multici, painted a vivid picture of the terror on board.
“The vessel had been moving very badly. It was constantly lifting out of the water and slamming back down. It was shaking violently,” he told CNN Turk.
“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.”
Other passengers spoke of the bow breaking under the impact, windows shattering, and water flooding the interior as people scrambled in panic.
Some claimed they had warned the crew about water ingress earlier but that the vessel continued onward.
“Those who could fled,” one shaken passenger said upon reaching shore after spending more than an hour in the water.
“It was literally a struggle for survival.”
(Source: reuters.com)
Chaos erupted as the catamaran – a 40-metre-long, 10-metre-wide high-speed craft built in 2000 – listed and then overturned.
Passengers in life jackets clung desperately to the upturned hull while others leapt into the sea.
Video footage captured the dramatic scenes of people standing or sitting atop the overturned vessel amid choppy waters as rescue boats approached.
Many reported no organised evacuation; some said the captain and crew appeared overwhelmed.
(Source: reuters.com)
A massive search and rescue operation swung into action almost immediately.
Turkish Cypriot coastguard vessels, civilian boats, Turkish coastguard ships, and helicopters raced to the scene.
Ambulances lined the harbour at Kyrenia as survivors were brought ashore.
Officials reported that around 237 people were rescued alive, though numbers fluctuated in early updates.
At least eight people are confirmed dead, with 17 still missing as of the latest reports.
Some of the injured were taken to hospital, and the search continues with divers from Turkey assisting.
The vessel itself eventually sank completely, settling on the seabed at a depth of 514 metres.
(Source: reuters.com)
Authorities moved swiftly to investigate.
The ship’s captain and seven crew members were detained for questioning as part of a probe into “how this tragedy occurred”.
Üstel emphasised accountability, stating, “No one will be spared, regardless of who they are, who is found to be at fault or responsible.”
Transport Minister Erhan Arikli confirmed the detention and the rising death toll.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed hope for positive news on the missing, while local leader Tufan Erhurman described a profound sense of shock: “This is not something we have experienced before… we are extremely saddened.”
(Source: bbc.co.uk)
The condition of the boat and the sea has become a focal point of speculation.
The Filo Jet had faced a delayed departure amid residual effects from Saturday’s severe weather, which included strong winds, thunderstorms, and rough seas that had already claimed one life elsewhere on the island.
Survivors and officials pointed to the vessel slamming hard against waves, potentially causing structural failure at the bow that allowed rapid flooding.
Some accounts suggested the boat attempted to turn back toward Kyrenia but could not make it before capsizing.
Questions linger over whether the catamaran was fully suited to the conditions or if maintenance and operational decisions played a role – matters now under official scrutiny.
(Source: turkiyetoday.com)
Kyrenia Mayor Murat Şenkul called the situation “very serious” as families gathered at the port and hospitals seeking news of loved ones.
The Republic of Cyprus government offered condolences and assistance, underscoring that human life takes precedence in such moments.
The disaster ranks among the worst maritime incidents in the region’s recent history, highlighting the risks of ferry travel on these busy routes linking northern Cyprus – recognised only by Turkey – with the mainland.
As night fell on Sunday, rescue teams pressed on amid the lingering uncertainty.
For those pulled from the water, the memories of the slamming waves, the sudden rush of seawater, and the frantic scramble for survival will endure.
For the families of the dead and missing, the wait continues under the weight of profound loss.
Investigators will now piece together the precise sequence of failures that turned a short sea voyage into tragedy off Cyprus’s northern shores.
Disclaimer: This article was compiled using the AI tool Grok on X and may contain inaccuracies
