Death toll climbs to 19 as missing still feared in Northern Cyprus ferry disaster
Rescuers have recovered another victim from the capsized Filo Jet ferry, raising the confirmed death count to 19 while nine passengers remain missing.
The Filo Jet ferry capsized on August 30 after departing from Kyrenia, carrying 267 passengers and crew. Rescue teams have pulled 239 survivors from the water and have now identified 19 fatalities, with nine individuals still missing. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel announced that the wreck lies at a depth of 514 meters and that the ferry’s voyage data recorder has been handed to police for forensic examination.
Police have arrested nine people - the captain Mustafa Öz, seven crew members and a director of the operator Filo Denizcilik - on suspicion of causing death through negligence, and a Kyrenia court extended their detention. An expert report cited superficial and inadequate repairs and noted that the ship’s watertight doors were not properly secured before the voyage. The investigation continues as specialists search the deep-water wreckage for the remaining missing passengers.
Why it matters
The tragedy highlights safety failures in maritime transport and ongoing legal accountability for the disaster.
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