Parents recount desperate attempts to save their children after a ferry capsized off Northern Cyprus on 30 August. As search operations continue, their 12-year-old daughter and six-year-old son are among the 18 people still missing, while at least eight people have died.
Published On 31 Aug 202631 Aug 2026
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At least 7 people died Sunday after their ferry capsized off northern Cyprus. Image courtesy of UPI
Aug. 30 (UPI) — At least seven people have died following a ferry capsized off northern Cyprus on Sunday, according to media reports.
Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel said 237 out of the 267 on the Filo Jet had been.rescue. He added the 23 people were missing.
None of the rescued were in critical condition, Ustel said.
According to Ustel, the ferry began taking on water 15 minutes amid bad weather after leaving port. The ship put out a call for help soon after, he added.
Turkey’s Interior Ministry said the ship was traveling from Kyrenia in northern Cyprus to Tasucu in Turkey.
Four coastguard ships and four helicopters and a civilian passenger ship were involved in rescue operations, according to the ministry.
It said search and rescue efforts were continuing.
Turkish parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus in a post on X offered condolences to those who died in “this exceedingly tragic incident.”