A passenger ferry has capsized off northern Cyprus, killing at least eight people and leaving more than a dozen others missing, the head of the Turkish administration there said. Ünal Üstel, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic on Cyprus (TRNC), said the boat was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members when it started taking on water after leaving the coastal town of Kyrenia. Captain And Crew DetainedÜstel said the ship’s captain and seven crew members had been detained as Turkish authorities investigated what led to the incident. A search and rescue operation is under way to find people still unaccounted for, with Turkish authorities joining efforts from local teams. The privately owned ferry departed Kyrenia at about 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT). Delayed By Poor WeatherÜstel said the vessel had been scheduled to travel to Turkey on Saturday, but departure was delayed by poor weather. He told Turkish media outlet TRT that the ferry was hit by two waves before it capsized. Üstel said the captain was trying to recover after the first wave when a second wave struck the boat, which then began taking on water. Helicopters and coastguard boats were dispatched to the scene, and ambulances were stationed on the beach to receive rescued passengers. Üstel said security forces, rescue teams and health officials were working at the site. He added that investigators would carry out a thorough examination of the disaster and that any negligence would be identified. “No one will be spared, regardless of who they are, who is found to be at fault or responsible,” he said. Rescued On Shore, Turkish ResponseTRNC transport minister Erhan Arikli told local media that 100 passengers had been taken to shore. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent condolences to Turkish Cypriots and said efforts to reach those still missing were continuing. Speaking at a military ceremony on Sunday, he said that immediately after the accident, Turkey launched extensive search-and-rescue operations in cooperation with TRNC authorities. A separate account of the aftermath was given by Mustafa Koc, who told the BBC he saved about 65 people with his boat after the ferry capsized. Koc said the crew should have waited until conditions improved, adding that the sea was choppy. Koc said the vessel arrived in Kyrenia on Saturday and had “some damage in the front”. The ferry is a high-speed vessel about 40 metres long and 10 metres wide, according to Marine Traffic, and sails under the Turkish flag. On Sunday evening, Arikli told TRT that the ship had completely sunk. Filo Denizcilik, the operator of the capsized passenger boat, said it was “deeply saddened” by the accident. A hotline has been set up to provide passengers’ relatives with information. The nationalities of those on board and the condition of any injured people have not been confirmed. Local television broadcast images showing the upside-down ferry in the water, with people wearing life vests atop its hull. The TRNC controls the northern third of Cyprus, an island divided since 1974; it is recognised only by Turkey. Join the discussion? 31 August 2026
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