Ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus, multiple deaths and missing reported
Consensus Summary
A ferry carrying around 270 passengers and crew capsized four nautical miles off Kyrenia, northern Cyprus, at 12:30 pm local time. The vessel, named FILOJET by ABC and linked to Filo Denizcilik by Guardian, began taking on water immediately after departing Kyrenia for Tasucu in Turkey. At least seven people died according to ABC and Guardian, while 7NEWS reports at least eight deaths. Rescue efforts saved 237 people alive, but discrepancies exist in the number of missing individuals, with ABC and Guardian reporting 23 or 24 missing, while 7NEWS states 17. The ferry sank to a depth of 514 metres, as reported by 7NEWS, and survivors described violent movements before the capsizing. Turkish Cypriot authorities arrested the captain and crew, and international leaders, including Turkey’s President Erdogan, expressed condolences. The incident follows fierce storms that battered Cyprus on Saturday, though weather conditions on Sunday were deemed suitable for travel.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- At least seven people died (ABC, Guardian) and at least eight people died (ABC, 7NEWS)
- 237 people had been rescued alive
- Around 270 passengers and crew were on board the ferry
- The ferry capsized four nautical miles off Kyrenia
- The ferry left Kyrenia port at 12:30 pm local time
- The ferry was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew
- The ferry was heading from Kyrenia to Tasucu (Turkey)
- The ferry began taking on water immediately after departure
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- 23 people were still being sought
- Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman stated the numbers in a live broadcast to CNN Turk
- The ferry was a catamaran
- The disaster occurred just off the coast of Kyrenia, a popular holiday resort
- The Turkish Cypriot Interior Ministry confirmed the ferry was named 'FILOJET'
- Four Turkish Cypriot coast guard vessels and a civilian passenger boat were deployed, along with five Turkish coastguard vessels and two helicopters
- 17 people were missing
- The captain and seven other crew members were arrested
- The ferry sank to a depth of 514 metres
- Survivor Efe Multici described the ferry moving erratically and violently before capsizing
- President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey extended condolences and stated efforts to find the missing continue
- The ferry was described as a two-hulled vessel
- 24 people were still being sought (Guardian) instead of 23 (ABC)
- The ferry belonged to the Filo Denizcilik company and sank off Diana beach
- The Turkish ambassador to Nicosia, Ali Murat Basceri, mentioned casualties but did not specify the number
- Many of the 259 passengers and eight crew members were rescued, with some taken to hospital
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- ABC and Guardian report 23 or 24 people missing, while 7NEWS reports 17 people missing
- ABC and Guardian report at least seven people died, while 7NEWS reports at least eight people died
- ABC and Guardian report 237 people rescued, but 7NEWS does not mention this number
- ABC and 7NEWS mention the storm on Saturday, but Guardian does not explicitly mention it
- ABC and Guardian report the ferry was four nautical miles off Kyrenia, while Guardian also states 7.5km (4 nautical miles) off the coast
Source Articles
At least 7 killed with more missing after boat capsizes off northern Cyprus
The vessel, which some reports said was a catamaran, began taking in water about four miles off the shore, local media reports.
At least eight people killed, 18 still missing after ferry capsizes off Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot authorities have arrested the captain and seven crew members of the ferry that sunk.
Six dead after ferry carrying nearly 270 capsizes off northern Cyprus
Many of the passengers and crew are reported to have been rescued, say local media Northern Cyprus ferry disaster – latest updates At least six people have died after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, local media reported. Some 237 people have been rescued, with a search still underway for 24, the region’s prime minister, Ünal Üstel, told the state-run TRT news channel on Sunday. Continue reading...
More Technology stories
Milo Yiannopoulos deported from US to UK after visa overstay and ICE detention
Ghislaine Maxwell's failed legal bid to overturn sex trafficking conviction
Tasmania’s George Town Council approves 288-megawatt AI data centre amid public opposition
Missing and deceased 18-year-old bushwalker Lily Hooper’s tragic search and miscommunication in Nattai National Park
Australia’s antisemitism royal commission hearings conclude with focus on Bondi terror attack and social cohesion
Lindsay Clancy murder trial: postpartum psychosis vs. criminal responsibility
Latest cross-verified stories
Trump renames Lake Ontario as Lake America amid US-Canada trade war
Bathla Group's collapse into administration and its impact on buyers, staff, and projects
Leah Stewart's shark attack recovery and community support after June 13 incident
US strikes Iranian launchers on Larak Island in Strait of Hormuz
Death of Australian boxer Tony Mundine at age 75 and his legacy
Nepal-Tibet floods leave hundreds dead, thousands missing, including 39+ Australians
Browse all stories from August 2026 in the archive.