30.08.2026 22:30
Striking details have emerged regarding the first moments of the rescue efforts following the disaster caused by the capsizing of a passenger ship off Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Fırat Gencer, a yacht operator who was near the area during the incident, recounted that when they saw the ship, they became worried due to the stormy weather, and after witnessing four consecutive explosions, they notified the Coast Guard. Gencer stated that they rescued approximately 35-40 people with his own boat and brought 15-20 children to the breakwater.
New details have emerged about the first moments of the rescue efforts following the disaster that resulted in a passenger ship capsizing off the coast of Girne in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Fırat Gencer, a yacht operator who was at a nearby location during the incident, described the events before the ship sank and the rescue operation they subsequently carried out.
WE SAID, "IS IT SAFE TO SAIL IN THIS WEATHER?"
According to the news from Kıbrıs Postası, Fırat Gencer said he was on the hotel's shore during the hours the ship set sail. Stating that the sea was quite rough and stormy, Gencer expressed that they became worried due to the weather conditions when they saw the passenger ship moving.
Gencer stated that at that moment, they said to each other, "Is it safe to sail in this weather?" Gencer, who recounted that after a while he saw an orange object explode on the sea, noted that he then became suspicious of the situation.
HE SAW FOUR EXPLOSIONS IN A ROW
Gencer, who said the orange image on the sea appeared for the second, third, and fourth time within a short period, stated that he then notified the Coast Guard teams.
Gencer stated that after his first notification, he was told that no incident report had reached them.
However, Gencer noted that he was called back by the Coast Guard shortly after, and described those moments as follows: "Shortly after, 5 minutes later, they called and reported, 'The boat is sinking.' Our boat was on land. I am one of the first to jump into the water and go. The Coast Guard also arrived right next to us."
HE SAVED DOZENS OF PEOPLE WITH HIS BOAT
Stating that they moved to the area with their own boat after the notification, Gencer said they participated in the rescue efforts together with the Coast Guard teams. Gencer, who recounted that they began taking passengers found in the sea onto their boat, stated that in the initial phase, they brought approximately 35-40 people onto their boat.
Stating that after the boat's capacity was full, they focused their rescue efforts especially on babies and children, Gencer said they also tried to evacuate the children in the life rafts found at sea.