FiloJet Ferry Accident in Northern Cyprus: 9 Arrested

Nine people have been arrested in connection with the accident involving the FiloJet passenger vessel off the coast of Northern Cyprus.

Turkish media reported that those arrested include the vessel’s captain and seven crew members. The identity of the ninth person has not yet been disclosed.

Speaking to TRT, Erhan Arıklı, Minister of Public Works and Transport of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said that coast guard boats, a helicopter and civilian vessels in the area were taking part in the rescue operation. A temporary medical facility had also been set up at the port, with ambulances waiting to transport injured passengers to hospitals.

It is still too early to say anything definite about the cause of the accident. The sea was quite rough. We will investigate and determine how the incident occurred.

A total of 267 people were on board the catamaran. Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, said that 241 people had been rescued, while 8 passengers died and 18 people remained missing.

On Sunday evening, the authorities in Northern Cyprus informed the Russian Embassy in Nicosia that there were no Russian citizens among those reported dead or among the people who had sought medical assistance following the accident.

FiloJet Had Recently Undergone a Technical Inspection

According to Erhan Arıklı, the vessel underwent a technical inspection by a reputable company 2.5 months ago.

However, Turkish media have reported that the FiloJet had previously been involved in accidents and had required repairs.

According to the Turkish newspaper Sözcü, the vessel was involved in an accident in İskenderun approximately seven years ago and subsequently remained in Northern Cyprus for some time.

The Denizhaber portal also reported that the vessel sustained damage approximately three years ago, requiring repair work.

History of the FiloJet Catamaran

According to the Haberdenizde portal, the catamaran was built in France in 2000 and was originally registered under the name Iris Jet.

In 2003, the vessel began operating in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, where it was chartered to transport passengers between Türkiye and Northern Cyprus.

That same year, the vessel suffered serious damage after colliding with a pier and was taken out of service for repairs.

Shortly afterwards, the vessel was reportedly seized because of an insurance dispute and the operator’s inability to pay debts owed to employees and other creditors.

The vessel remained idle at the Turkish port of Taşucu for four years before eventually being sold at auction.

Rescue Operation Continues

The search and rescue operation is continuing off the coast of Northern Cyprus. Coast guard units, helicopters and civilian vessels are involved in efforts to locate the remaining missing passengers.

Authorities have stressed that the exact cause of the accident has not yet been established and that a full investigation will be required.

Important: The number of rescued, missing and deceased passengers may be updated as the search and rescue operation continues.