30.08.2026 15:40
Two passengers who survived the capsizing passenger ship off Kyrenia claimed that they realized there was a problem on the ship and told the captain to 'turn back,' but the captain continued his course, saying, 'He stubbornly refused to turn back; in the end, its bow burst.'
A catamaran-type passenger ship carrying 267 people took on water and capsized off the coast of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Coast guard teams, civilian boats, and helicopters launched a large-scale rescue operation at sea, while all hospitals in the region were put on alert.
MINISTER ANNOUNCED THE SAD NEWS
TRNC Minister of Transport Erhan Arıklı said, "There were a total of 259 passengers and 8 crew members on the ship. Of these passengers, 4 were German and 3 were Iranian nationals. It is not possible for us to give the number of those rescued right now, because the transfer from the ship to the shore is still ongoing. They are being transported from there to hospitals by ambulances. There are seriously injured passengers and those in normal condition. We know there are casualties, but it is not possible for us to give any information about the number."
SCANDALOUS CLAIM: HE DIDN'T TURN BACK OUT OF SPITE
Two male passengers who said they were rescued from the capsized ship made striking claims to the press. One of the passengers stated that the ship sank within 20 minutes, while another passenger said, "We told them, we said 'turn back'. Finally, when the official came and saw the crack, he said 'okay', went to the back, and said 'come to the back, all of you'."
Another passenger said, "He stubbornly didn't turn back, he stubbornly didn't turn back, finally the front of the ship exploded... Those who remained inside must have stayed. The coast guard was late. The public saw it, the people who rescued us said, 'I saw it, I jumped in and came'."
"THE WOMAN DIED JUST NOW"
In a video taken from a boat carrying a group of rescued passengers in the middle of the sea, the victims, in panic and fear, were seen saying, "The woman died just now, no one came to help. Look at the woman... We are all cut up. Look at the woman. People are drowning in the water."