31.08.2026 11:10
8 people lost their lives in the ship that sank off the coast of Kyrenia, while search efforts continue for 18 people. The words of mother Ayten Biçer, whose two children are among the 18 missing, broke hearts. The Biçer family, who experienced the horror while returning to their hometown from the holiday they came to with their husband and children, continues their painful wait. Mother Biçer said, 'There were no life jackets. My children went without life jackets. They didn't give us life jackets.'
A Turkish passenger catamaran departed from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for Taşucu Port in Mersin on August 30, 2026, in the afternoon, and capsized shortly after departure. There were 267 passengers, including the crew, on board at the time of the accident. Eight people lost their lives in the accident, 241 passengers were rescued, and search efforts continue for 18 passengers.
The Biçer siblings are among the 18 missing people. Ayten Biçer, the mother of Miray and Mehmet Asaf, said her children were trapped on the ship without life jackets.
THE PAINFUL WAIT CONTINUES
Eight people lost their lives when the passenger ship named Filojet, traveling from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to Taşucu Port in Mersin, capsized and sank. In the biggest maritime disaster in TRNC history, 18 people are missing. Search and rescue efforts continue in the region. The wait for those who lost their loved ones in the accident continues. Two of the missing are the children of the Biçer family.
"WE CAME ON VACATION, AND I AM LEAVING WITHOUT MY CHILDREN"
Hayri Biçer and Ayten Biçer, who came to Kyrenia with their children Miray and Mehmet Asaf for a vacation, experienced this disaster on their way back to their hometown. Their 12-year-old daughter Saliha Miray Biçer and 9-year-old son Mehmet Asaf Biçer are missing in the accident. The mother, Ayten Biçer, saying, "We came on vacation, and I am leaving without my children," reacted to the negligence in the accident.
"MOM, DON'T LET GO OF OUR HANDS"
Describing how people tried to save themselves by stepping on each other during the accident, mother Biçer said, "My children screamed, 'Mom, don't let go of our hands.' The grieving mother stated that her children were trapped on the ship and remained there.
Ayten Biçer, who said she and her husband were rescued by people who came to help, described the moments of horror, saying, "Suitcases fell on us. There was diesel fuel. Everything was slippery."
"MY CHILDREN LEFT WITHOUT LIFE JACKETS"
Noting that the ship's personnel said the stormy weather would pass within 20 minutes, the grieving mother said, "We came on vacation and were returning home. I managed to get out by stepping on over 20 people. There were no life jackets. My children left without life jackets. They didn't give us life jackets. Some balloon-like things came, and the staff jumped on them first."
"DIDN'T YOUR FEET EVEN TOUCH THE SEA?"
Ayten Biçer also stated that the ship's personnel tried to silence panicking passengers by saying, "Didn't your feet even touch the sea? Stay calm."