Survivors describe “battle for survival” on sinking ship

Local accidentoccupied northTop News Survivors describe “battle for survival” on sinking ship Keryneia 1 Relevant News The destruction of Smyrna, and the refuge Cyprus gave its survivors 31 August 2026 IBAN no longer needed for everyday transfers under new Cyprus payment plan 31 August 2026 Survivors describe “battle for survival” on sinking ship 31 August 2026 newsroom 31 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Investigators are now focused on the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the “Filo Jet” off Kyrenia, as the search for those still missing continues. Survivors have alleged serious safety failures and an inadequate response from the crew, while the captain and seven others remain in custody as part of the investigation. The death toll stands at eight so far, with 18 people still unaccounted for as the search and rescue operation continues. A total of 267 people were on board, comprising 259 passengers and eight crew members, according to Turkey’s Interior Ministry. Survivors have been taken to hospital, and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said their condition does not appear to be a serious cause for concern. Girne açıklarında yaşanan Filo Jet faciasına ilişkin ortaya çıkan yeni görüntüler, geminin alabora olarak batış anını görüntüledi.Video: Murat Şahin#haber #kktc #kıbrıs pic.twitter.com/SLwU4GzktH— Kıbrıs Postası (@kibris_postasi) August 30, 2026 Investigation focus: how the ship capsized The captain and seven others have been placed in custody as part of the investigation into the circumstances of the sinking. “Prime Minister” Unal Ustel said the ship capsized after being struck successively by two large waves, adding that after the first wave the captain tried to right the vessel before a second wave hit, causing water to flood in. Local media have reported that the captain noticed the water ingress shortly after departing for Tasucu, Mersin, and tried to return to Kyrenia but was unable to do so. “We’re used to it, this is normal” Passenger accounts of what happened in the minutes after departure are now central to the investigation. Ibrahim Kanbolat alleged that when passengers told the crew the catamaran was taking on water, they were told: “We’re used to it, this is normal.” He described water flooding in heavily, a section of the vessel’s side giving way, and the ship immediately beginning to tilt; a crew member went to the back and told passengers to run there, but no one was given a life jacket. Kanbolat said “everyone survived through their own efforts.” He was rescued by a private boat and alleged that crew members handed out no life jackets, despite children and non-swimmers being among the passengers. "Gemi batıyor! Çocuklar var!" Girne açıklarında alabora olan gemide yolcuların son anları böyle görüntülendi. pic.twitter.com/VzmkMwxMUa— Kıbrıs Postası (@kibris_postasi) August 30, 2026 “It was literally a battle for survival” Efe Multici gave a similar account to CNN Türk, saying some passengers were forced to jump into the sea without life jackets. “It was literally a battle for survival,” he said. According to his account, the ship began taking on water roughly 20 to 25 minutes after leaving Kyrenia, at around midday local time; departure had already been delayed by strong winds. He said the lack of life jackets was a huge problem for those on board, and described the ship’s motion as like being in a gondola. "Gemi batıyor! Çocuklar var!" Girne açıklarında alabora olan gemide yolcuların son anları böyle görüntülendi. pic.twitter.com/VzmkMwxMUa— Kıbrıs Postası (@kibris_postasi) August 30, 2026 Black box recovery seen as key The wreck has been located at a depth of around 514 metres, hampering the search operation; a specially equipped vessel and divers are expected from Turkey to reinforce the effort. Recovering the “Filo Jet’s” black box is considered particularly important, as its data is expected to yield critical information about what happened before the ship capsized. The catamaran had undergone an inspection just two months earlier by Turk Loydu at the Akdeniz shipyard. Company response Filo Denizcilik, which owns the catamaran, said it had set up a crisis management team immediately after the sinking. The company said it was coordinating with search and rescue teams and had mobilised its available resources. It has also set up a dedicated crisis and information line for passengers’ relatives, noting that official updates on the progress of the search would be issued by the relevant authorities. Read more: “Is my wife alive?” — anguish grows as Kyrenia search resumes Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News The destruction of Smyrna, and the refuge Cyprus gave its survivors IBAN no longer needed for everyday transfers under new Cyprus payment plan “Is my wife alive?” — anguish grows as Kyrenia search resumes Hospitals discharge shipwreck survivors as search for 18 missing continues 35 degree peak, mostly clear skies on Monday Captain and seven crew members arrested following Kyrenia ferry disaster RoC assistance not needed in Kyrenia boat disaster, authorities say Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.