31.08.2026 07:40
FiloJet, which set out with 267 people in the TRNC, took on water in stormy weather and capsized within 20 minutes. In the disaster, in which 8 people died and 18 people went missing, allegations of negligence came to the fore. Passengers claimed that they warned the crew beforehand about the ship taking on water, but their warnings were not heeded. While the question of why the ship set sail despite meteorological warnings was debated, the captain and 7 crew members were arrested.
New details have emerged regarding the disaster that occurred when the catamaran named FiloJet, owned by Filo Denizcilik, capsized while traveling from Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to the Taşucu Port of Mersin.
The catamaran, carrying a total of 267 people, including 259 passengers and 8 crew members, began taking on water approximately 7 kilometers off the coast of Kyrenia Port at around 12:30 yesterday.
It was reported that control of the catamaran was lost while the captain was maneuvering to return to port. According to a report in Milliyet, after the distress call, Coast Guard boats, helicopters, and civilian vessels were directed to the area. However, the catamaran capsized within approximately 20 minutes.
8 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES, 18 PEOPLE ARE BEING SEARCHED FOR
Erhan Arıklı, the Minister of Public Works and Transportation of the TRNC, announced that the catamaran carried a total of 267 people, including 259 passengers and 8 crew members.
In the disaster, 8 people lost their lives, and search and rescue efforts continue to find the 18 missing people. It was reported that 241 people on board were rescued.
A field hospital was established at Kyrenia Port and ambulances were sent to the region to conduct health checks on those rescued.
SEARCH AND RESCUE SUPPORT FROM TÜRKİYE
Türkiye also supported the search and rescue efforts with numerous assets. In addition to 2 ships belonging to the Turkish Naval Forces, which were in the TRNC for the August 30 Victory Day celebrations, 2 UAVs and one Casa-type aircraft belonging to the Turkish Armed Forces participated in the operations.
A helicopter from the Turkish Air Force, along with 2 helicopters and 2 Coast Guard ships from the Coast Guard Command, were also deployed to the region.
WRECKAGE AT 514 METERS DEPTH
TRNC President Tufan Erhürman and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel monitored the efforts through the established Crisis Desk.
Erhürman stated that the sea reaches a depth of 514 meters at the point where the ship sank, saying, "This situation makes the efforts difficult. It does not seem possible to reach those inside the ship under current conditions."
Noting that support was provided from Türkiye, Erhürman asked those who could not get news from their relatives to contact the TRNC Ministry of Health.
CAPTAIN AND 7 CREW MEMBERS ARRESTED
A judicial process was also initiated following the disaster. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel announced that the ship's captain and 7 officials were arrested. Stating that the cause of the accident would become clear as a result of the investigations to be conducted, Üstel said, "Once the black box is revealed and opened, we will have access to clear information. The ship's captain and 7 officials have been arrested. Every aspect of this incident will be investigated. Even the slightest negligence will be brought to light."
SHIP WAS INSPECTED 2 MONTHS AGO
Minister Arıklı announced that FiloJet was inspected approximately two months ago at the "Akdeniz" shipyard by a company called "Türk Loydu." Stating that access to the voyage data recorder is necessary to determine why the ship sank, Arıklı reported that a fully equipped ship and divers from Türkiye would arrive in the region for operations at a depth of 514 meters.
CLAIM THAT PASSENGERS WARNED IN ADVANCE
The accounts of some passengers who survived the disaster increased questions about what happened before the accident.
Passengers claimed that they noticed the ship had started taking on water and reported the situation to the officials, but adequate precautions were not taken.
One surviving passenger, stating that water began gushing into the ship, said, "Then the front part burst. When the ship took on water from the front, the captain tried to turn, but couldn't. It tilted to the side in the first 5 minutes, and after the sides burst, it capsized in 20 minutes."
CLAIM OF "NOTHING WILL HAPPEN, WE EXPERIENCE THIS ALL THE TIME"
Another passenger claimed that after the water was noticed, the captain said, "Nothing will happen. We experience this all the time. It's probably leaking from a bolt."
İbrahim Canbolat, who survived the accident, also claimed that they noticed water coming from the lower part of the ship and warned the officials.
Canbolat claimed that an official responded to them, saying, "We are used to it, it's normal, we are moving through the water."
Canbolat described how a section on the side of the ship burst and windows shattered as the water kept increasing, and said some passengers jumped into the sea.
Canbolat said, "The ship immediately started to lean. 'Everyone run to the back' was said. Everyone tried to save themselves through their own efforts."
"WE COULDN'T FIND A LIFE JACKET"
Another survivor recounted that the catamaran initially moved violently over the waves, and then water began to enter inside.
The passenger stated that in the panic, they asked for the Coast Guard to be called, and claimed that one of the officials said the situation was normal.
Describing the stampede when heading towards the exit, the survivor claimed they could not find life jackets and had problems at the exit.
EXPERT'S WARNING ABOUT "BILGE ALARMS"
Captain Mehmet Kambay drew attention to the heavy sea conditions in the region where the accident occurred.
Stating that the sea would not calm down immediately after the storm that has been effective in some parts of the Aegean and Mediterranean in recent days, Kambay said catamarans are not suitable for all sea conditions.
Kambay also noted that when the ship began taking on water, the bilge level alarm should have been activated, and stated that this could have gained approximately 20 minutes in terms of evacuation.
"THE TURNING MANEUVER MAY HAVE CAUSED IT TO CAPSIZE"
Dr. Captain Cahit İstikbal, President of the Maritime Safety Association, assessed that the turning maneuver may have played a role in the catamaran capsizing.
İstikbal stated that tons of water entering the ship during the turn may have piled up on one side, rapidly destabilizing the center of gravity, which could have caused the catamaran to overturn.
He cited the Sewol ferry disaster in South Korea and the Costa Concordia accident in Italy as similar examples.
WHY DID IT SET SAIL DESPITE THE STORM?
One of the most important questions following the disaster was why the catamaran set sail despite the heavy sea conditions.
According to experts' assessments, catamaran-type passenger ships, which are produced from lightweight materials such as aluminum alloy or fiberglass to achieve high speeds, may face structural risks in heavy sea conditions. It was reported that the day before the accident, due to the severe storm affecting Cyprus, other ferries on the Kyrenia-Mersin route also experienced difficult moments. While images showed a ferry departing from Kyrenia rocking violently, a passenger on another ferry departing from Mersin said that many people became ill due to the waves.
ANOTHER SHIP WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DEPART
Kyrenia Mayor Murat Şenkul announced that another company's passenger ship was not allowed to depart due to weather conditions. While assessments were made that it should be investigated why FiloJet set sail on a day with meteorological warnings, maritime authorities stated that the final decision regarding sailing in bad weather conditions lies with the captain's initiative.
3-DAY NATIONAL MOURNING IN THE TRNC
Following the disaster, the TRNC Council of Ministers declared a 3-day national mourning across the country. Turkey's Embassy in Nicosia also canceled the reception planned for August 30 Victory Day.
THE STORM ALSO CLAIMED LIVES IN SOUTHERN CYPRUS
The adverse weather conditions in the region also affected Southern Cyprus. The super luxury yacht named "Perla Bianca," valued at 22 million 950 thousand euros, owned by Limassol businessman and former rally champion Dimi Mavropoulos, struck rocks and ran aground. While Mavropoulos lost his life, it was reported that his wife and daughter were rescued.
CONDOLENCE AND SUPPORT MESSAGES FROM TURKEY
Following the disaster, statements came one after another from Turkey. Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Numan Kurtulmuş, wishing God's mercy on those who lost their lives and patience to their relatives, expressed his hope that search and rescue efforts would conclude successfully. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz stated that the relevant institutions of the TRNC and Turkey are continuing search and rescue activities without interruption, emphasizing that the main priority is reaching the passengers and crew. MHP Deputy Chairman İsmail Özdemir also announced that MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli called TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel by phone to convey his condolences. AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik stated that all means have been mobilized and rescue efforts are ongoing, while Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran reported that the majority of passengers had been evacuated and efforts were continuing.
"SUCH DISASTERS DO NOT HAPPEN ON THEIR OWN"
Sıla Usar İncirli, Chairman of the main opposition party CTP in the TRNC, said that the causes of the accident and possible negligence should be investigated in all aspects. İncirli, stating, "Such disasters do not happen on their own," expressed that it should be determined whether necessary inspections were carried out and who bears responsibility.
In addition to political figures from Turkey, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also issued a condolence message over the disaster, conveying his condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey, and the families of those who lost their lives.