At least six dead after ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers, crew capsizes off northern Cyprus

A helicopter brings survivors ashore after they were rescued from the sea following a boat capsize off Kyrenia, northern Cyprus. | Photo Credit: Reuters At least six people have died after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday (August 30, 2026), Turkish media reported.More than 172 people have been rescued, Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus Unal Ustel told the Turkish state-run TRT news channelThe catamaran-style ferry was travelling from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, in the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province.Kyrenia Mayor Murat Senkul said the ship belonged to the Filo Denizcilik ferry company and sank off the coast of Diana beach on Cyprus' northern coast.The ferry started taking in water about 7.5 kilometers (4 nautical miles) off the coast, TRT reported.Video footage from the scene shows people with life-vests floating in the waters around the capsized vessel. Published - August 30, 2026 06:17 pm IST