At least 7 killed with more missing after boat capsizes off northern Cyprus

At least eight lives have been lost and 18 individuals remain unaccounted for following a capsized ferry off the northern coast of Cyprus. The privately-owned vessel, the Filo Jet, departed from the port of Kyrenia carrying approximately 270 passengers and crew members. The incident unfolded at around 12:30pm local time, with the ship experiencing an unknown issue that caused it to begin taking on water immediately.

Turkish Cypriot coast guard vessels and helicopters have been mobilized to the scene to aid in the search and rescue efforts. Prime Minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ünal Üstel, confirmed that 237 people had been rescued thus far, while an additional 22 individuals are still missing. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed condolences and wished for a quick recovery for the Turkish Cypriot people, reaffirming Türkiye's cooperation in the rescue operations.

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman stated that adverse weather conditions may have contributed to the disaster, but urged against speculating about the exact cause of the accident. The ferry was en route to the port of Tasucu in Mersin province, Türkiye, when it capsized in waters 500 meters deep, making the rescue operation particularly challenging.

The day prior, Cyprus had faced severe storms, resulting in one fatality from a sailboat crashing onto rocks in rough seas off the island's southeast. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Türkiye, is a breakaway state supported economically and militarily by Türkiye. Efforts to locate the missing are ongoing, with search and rescue teams working intensively to reach those still inside the overturned vessel.