Ferry Sinks off Cyprus, Leaving Eight Dead and 20 Missing
At least eight people have died and 20 remain missing after the high-speed passenger catamaran Filo Jet capsized off Kyrenia in northern Cyprus on Sunday, 30 August. The vessel was carrying 267 people towards Taşucu in Türkiye when it began taking on water shortly after departure. Authorities now say 239 people survived, while an intensive surface and underwater search for the missing continues.
Survivors said the vessel began listing and moving violently before capsizing about four nautical miles from Kyrenia. Some described difficulty reaching lifejackets and people becoming trapped as the ferry overturned, but those accounts remain part of the investigation. The wreck later sank to more than 500 metres, prompting Türkiye to deploy the TCG Işın, a specialist naval search vessel equipped with a remotely operated vehicle.
Authorities have not established the cause. Officials say the vessel had passed seaworthiness checks, while investigators are examining its documents, safety measures, crew actions and passenger claims. Filo Denizcilik’s operations have been suspended, and officials who authorised the departure have been removed from duty. The detention of crew members and a company director is investigative and does not itself establish criminal responsibility.
If Something Goes Wrong on Board
- Before departure: Take a moment to see where the nearest exit, lifejackets and muster point are.
- If an alarm sounds: Head to the muster point and listen for crew announcements.
- Leave bags behind: Don’t waste time going back for luggage if people are already leaving the vessel.
- Children: Check the lifejacket fits before sailing, and keep young children with you if an evacuation starts.
- Lifeboats: Get in only when the crew tells you to, unless the situation makes that impossible.
Investigators still need to determine whether passengers could reach safety equipment quickly enough and whether clear instructions were given during the evacuation. Until that is known, it would be wrong to suggest passengers could have prevented the outcome by following a checklist. The sensible precaution is simply to know where the exits and lifejackets are before the ferry leaves and to move quickly if an evacuation begins.
