Harrowing footage from capsized Kyrenia–Taşucu catamaran; 241 rescued, 18 missing

Newly released, harrowing footage shows the interior of the passenger catamaran that capsized near the coast of Cyprus, in a disaster that left eight people dead, 18 still missing and 241 rescued and brought ashore.

The fast ferry Filo Jet departed Kyrenia with 259 passengers and eight crew members — 267 people in total on board. According to authorities, 249 people have so far been accounted for: 241 survivors and eight recovered bodies; searches continue for the remaining 18, including children.

Survivors describe sudden flooding and chaos

Passengers say the vessel began taking on water through its forward sections about 15 minutes after leaving the port. The distress call was logged at 12:13, when the ship flying the Turkish flag was reported roughly five nautical miles north of Kyrenia. Witnesses and video show the catamaran listing sharply and then rolling over, with people forced into the sea and others trapped on the overturned hull awaiting rescue.

One survivor described the motion as surreal. "It felt like we were in a gondola, not on a ship," said Efe Multici, who was among those rescued. Another passenger recounted that "the water started coming in. Some were forced to jump into the sea without lifejackets or other flotation devices. It was a fight for life." Survivors also reported that windows burst after a heavy impact and that many remained in closed compartments as the vessel filled.

Claims have been made that passengers warned the crew about incoming water and that evacuation instructions were unclear or delayed; some survivors also say the captain left the vessel early. Those allegations are part of the ongoing criminal investigation and have not been independently verified.

Rescue efforts involved ships and boats from Turkey and northern Cyprus, coast guard units, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and drones, plus private vessels that were nearby. The sunken catamaran now lies at about 514 metres depth, which complicates retrieval of the voyage data recorder — a key element for investigators.

Authorities report no critically injured patients among those taken to hospitals so far. Officials have detained the entire crew — the captain and seven other crew members — and launched a criminal inquiry to examine possible negligence.

Several hypotheses are being examined: investigators are looking at whether two successive heavy waves struck the boat, whether the catamaran struck an object, and possible structural or maintenance failings. The 42‑metre Filo Jet, built in France in 2000 and originally named Iris Jet, was about 26 years old. It can reach speeds up to 35 knots, measures roughly 42 metres by 10.4 metres and has a certified capacity of 320 passengers. The route between Kyrenia and the Turkish port of Taşucu in Mersin had been in use for this vessel since 2003; it was seized later over debts, changed ownership, renovated and returned to service under the name Filo Jet.

Investigators note that the vessel was inspected at a shipyard by the classification society Türk Loydu about two months before the accident, but they must still determine how extensive damage to the forward section occurred in a matter of minutes. The trip was originally scheduled for Saturday but postponed to Sunday because of bad weather; the Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said conditions at departure were adequate and urged against early conclusions about the cause.

Photo: press material from the event