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Passenger ferry carrying nearly 270 people capsizes off northern Cyprus

A rescue operation is underway off the coast of Kyrenia after a vessel bound for Turkey began taking on water.

Updated Aug 30, 2026 · 14:35 UTC9 reports

The short version

  • A catamaran-style ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized on Sunday about 7.5 kilometers off the northern coast of Cyprus.
  • The vessel was traveling from the port of Kyrenia toward Taşucu in Mersin province, Turkey.
  • Emergency response teams, including coastguard boats and helicopters, have rescued over 200 people and brought many to shore.
  • Officials report several fatalities, while search efforts remain ongoing to locate individuals still missing.

Key facts

  • The catamaran-style ferry was carrying approximately 267 people, including 259 passengers and eight crew members.[The Guardian · Deutsche Welle]
  • The vessel began taking on water about 7.5 kilometers (4 nautical miles) off the coast after departing Kyrenia for Taşucu, Turkey.[The Guardian · Associated Press]
  • Kyrenia Mayor Murat Şenkul reported that the ferry belonged to the Filo Denizcilik company.[The Guardian · CBS News]
  • Local authorities deployed helicopters and coastguard vessels for search and rescue operations, while ambulances were prepared on the beach.[BBC News]
  • Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel stated that at least six to seven people died and approximately 237 people were rescued.[The Guardian · Deutsche Welle]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact death toll and number of missing passengers remain unconfirmed, with initial official figures ranging from six to seven dead and up to 89 missing.[The Guardian · Deutsche Welle · Al Jazeera]
  • The cause of the vessel taking on water has not yet been determined and is pending an investigation.[Al Jazeera]

Sources