Eight people have died after the Filo Jet ferry capsized off the coast of Northern Cyprus with 279 people on board.
Emergency teams are searching for 17 missing passengers following the maritime disaster, according to local authorities cited by Russian news agency TASS. Earlier reports from local officials had listed seven fatalities and 23 people missing during the initial phase of the rescue operation.
The Filo Jet was traveling from Northern Cyprus toward the Turkish port of Tasucu when the vessel began going under water two kilometers off the coast of Girne. The ferry flipped over in the sea, throwing passengers into the water. Authorities noted that Russian citizens may have been among the 279 people on board when the ship sank.
Maritime routes between Cyprus and Turkey
Girne, also known as Kyrenia, is a major coastal town and historic port city located on the northern shore of Cyprus. Renowned for its castle and historic harbor, the city serves as a primary maritime transport hub for Northern Cyprus, operating regular commercial shipping lines and passenger ferry services that connect the island across the eastern Mediterranean Sea to southern Turkey.
Tasucu is a harbor town situated in the Silifke district within the Mersin province of southern Turkey. Located along the Mediterranean coast, the port functions as a key shipping and passenger terminal for vessels traveling back and forth across the sea channel between the Turkish mainland and northern Cypriot ports.
Ferry passages across this portion of the Mediterranean offer essential transport links for commuters, travelers, and cargo traffic between Cyprus and Turkey. The maritime route connecting Girne and Tasucu is one of the most frequently traveled sea paths in the region.
Search and rescue operations remain underway in the waters off Girne as maritime emergency teams continue searching for the 17 missing passengers reported by local authorities.
