Survivors Recall Terror and Chaos as Ferry Capsizes Off Northern Cyprus

Survivors of a deadly ferry disaster off northern Cyprus have described scenes of terror and desperation aboard the vessel as passengers scrambled to escape after it began taking on water and capsized.

The Filo Jet, carrying 267 passengers and crew, was travelling from Kyrenia to Taşucu in southern Turkey on Sunday when it ran into trouble about 7.5 kilometres off the Cypriot coast. At least eight people have died, while 18 remain missing, according to the latest reports. Some 241 people have been rescued.

The ferry eventually sank to the seabed at a depth of about 514 metres, significantly complicating the search for those still missing. A specialist Turkish deep-sea team arrived Tuesday to assist with the operation.

One survivor, Serkan Kunduraci, said he escaped through a broken window after the vessel began tilting.

He described seeing people struggling in the water, including children and passengers who could not swim.

Kunduraci said some passengers jumped into the sea in panic while others desperately searched for life jackets. He also described an elderly man whom passengers tried unsuccessfully to rescue.

He said passengers heard loud noises from below decks before the ferry began taking on water. According to his account, crew members initially told passengers there was no major problem and attributed the leak to a loose gasket.

By the time an evacuation was ordered, panic had already spread through the vessel.

“There was so much screaming,” Kunduraci recalled, describing people trapped toward the rear of the ferry as the vessel tilted.

Another survivor, Deniz Ozpolat, said passengers rushed toward the exits but encountered a crush of people.

He claimed that life jackets were difficult to find and that doors were temporarily closed before eventually being opened.

Passengers then broke windows and jumped into the sea as the vessel continued to sink.

Rescuer Muhammed Ozcelik, who operates a water-sports company, said his boat was among the first to reach the scene.

He described rescuers being overwhelmed as people in the water pleaded to be taken aboard.

“People were fighting for their lives,” he said, according to the Associated Press.

Images from the rescue showed passengers wearing orange life jackets gathered on the overturned hull before being taken to safety by nearby boats.

The disaster has been particularly painful for families who lost children.

Survivors said young passengers were among those struggling in the water after the ferry overturned. One mother, Ayten Bicer, told reporters that her 12-year-old daughter slipped from her grasp as the vessel sank. Her six-year-old son was also reported missing, while her 10-year-old son survived.

The accounts have added to growing questions about how the evacuation was handled and whether passengers had adequate access to safety equipment.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sinking.

The ferry’s captain and crew members have been detained, with officials promising that any negligence or wrongdoing uncovered during the investigation will be addressed. The vessel’s operator has also come under scrutiny following passengers’ accounts of what happened aboard the ship.

Authorities have also begun efforts to recover information from the wreck that could help establish why the ferry capsized so quickly.

The exact cause of the disaster remains under investigation. Witnesses reported hearing loud noises before the vessel began listing, while authorities have also been examining weather and sea conditions at the time.

With 18 people still missing, the rescue operation has now entered a difficult phase.

The wreck lies more than half a kilometre below the surface, beyond the capabilities of many conventional diving teams. Turkey has therefore deployed a specialist deep-sea vessel and team to assist in searching the wreck and surrounding waters.

Northern Cyprus has declared a period of mourning as families wait for news of their missing relatives.

For survivors, however, the memories of Sunday afternoon remain painfully vivid; a routine ferry journey that suddenly became a desperate fight for survival.

As rescue teams continue searching the deep waters, families are left hoping that those still missing can be found.