Catamaran ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus with 267 on board, leaving 159 rescued and casualties reported

Ingress of water and capsizing off Kyrenia

On Sunday, 30 August 2026, the high-speed catamaran passenger ferry Express, operated by Filo Denizcilik under the Filo Jet brand, capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the northern coast of Cyprus. The Turkish-flagged vessel had departed from the port of Kyrenia (Girne) bound for the southern Turkish port of Taşucu. Water began flooding the forward section of the catamaran between two and seven and a half kilometres (approximately three to four nautical miles) from the coastline, near Diana Beach. After detecting the water ingress, the captain attempted to turn the ferry around to return to Kyrenia harbour. The vessel lost stability during the turn, capsized upside down, and sank. Multiple passengers were thrown into the sea wearing lifejackets, while dozens of survivors climbed onto the overturned hull to await rescue.

Coordinated maritime rescue operation

Maritime rescue authorities launched an emergency response after receiving a distress signal sent shortly after departure. Four marine vessels from the Coast Guard Command were dispatched immediately alongside the commercial passenger ship Akgünler 3. The Coast Guard Command reinforced the operation with five additional marine vessels and two helicopters, while Turkey's Naval Forces Command assigned six naval vessels to the search area. Private boats and local fishing vessels also assisted in pulling survivors from the water. Emergency workers brought 159 rescued passengers and crew members to Girne port, where waiting ambulances transferred injured individuals to local hospitals.

Casualties and passenger manifest

According to manifest figures released by maritime and transport officials, a total of 267 people were on board the ferry, consisting of 259 passengers and eight crew members. Northern Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri confirmed that the capsizing resulted in fatalities, with search teams continuing their sweep of the maritime corridor for any remaining occupants. Northern Cyprus Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı confirmed that 159 people had been recovered and outlined the status of the investigation.

One of our passengers has died; I cannot give an exact number. We are trying to rescue the passengers. We are investigating what happened. The cause of the incident is at this moment still unknown.

Structural inquiries and official reactions

Concerns regarding the seaworthiness and material condition of the aging vessel surfaced following the accident. Initial reports indicated that the catamaran's fiberglass structure suffered extensive damage under the weight of incoming water, causing the hull to break apart. Kyrenia Mayor Murat Şenkul described the emergency as severe, while municipal services coordinated with port authorities to process arriving survivors. In Ankara, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik stated that all available state capabilities were deployed to support maritime operations. Maritime safety authorities have commenced an investigation into the cause of the sudden flooding and capsizing.