She’s known for quizzing politicians and reading the headlines on Good Morning Britain.

But viewers will see a whole new side to Ranvir Singh as she appears on celebrity gameshow The Box, hosted by Gary Lineker.

The presenter, 49, has said the experience pushed her ‘out of her comfort zone’ and was life-changing, as she overcame her fear of water.

‘Being on an entertainment show is very different to being obviously in news. The whole thing was out of my comfort zone. But I couldn’t have wished for a better experience actually,’ she told the Daily Mail at the ITV show’s launch event.

Speaking about overcoming her fear of water, and how it helped her bond more with her son Tushaan, 14, she said: ‘I’ve got a son who is very active and loves the water; he’s a little fish really, he just loves it, but you know he’s always tried to encourage me to try and go out into the water.

‘I really hate anything where I can’t touch the… It’s not that I hate it, I actually can’t do it right, so on our holiday after The Box, it was the first time that I’ve had the courage to do it.

The presenter, 49, has said the experience pushed her ‘out of her comfort zone’ and was life-changing, as she overcame her fear of water

‘Even though I’ve got a life jacket on, but the life jacket with a phobia is just something that can save my life, it doesn’t solve my phobia if you see what I mean. So it was the first time that I’ve actually snorkelled with him out in the sea.

‘It was amazing. He was so proud of me. I was glad for him that he could see me conquer my fear. So it’s definitely changed how I approach my life. It’s opened up doors.

‘I feel really proud of myself.’

Ranvir shares Tushaan with her ex-husband Ranjeet Singh Dehal, who she secretly split with when she was seven months pregnant.

She is currently dating Louis Church, who is 18 years her junior, after meeting him when he worked behind-the-scenes during her stint on Strictly Come Dancing.

Elsewhere, Ranvir said she hopes her colleagues, including Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley, will be surprised at her performance on the show.

She said: ‘I hope they’re surprised. I’m usually quite composed and know what I’m doing

‘Also, the problem slightly is that when you are a journalist, you’re expected to know stuff and have the answers, or you can certainly find the answer out. So it’s very discombobulating for me from my day job to have no briefing notes.’

Ranvir is currently dating Louis Church, who is 18 years her junior, after meeting him when he worked behind-the-scenes during her stint on Strictly Come Dancing

Ranvir, who has worked on GMB for over 12 years, added that while she might have interviewed her The Box co-stars, if it hadn’t been for the show, they never would have become friends.

‘We just really got to know each other; that’s like a lovely experience which we never get time to sit with a bunch of people who in your normal daily life we would never work together because our paths just don’t cross. 

‘I probably would interview everybody here on TV for my job, but you don’t get to properly get to know people, so it’s really nice.’ 

On the show, Ranvir, alongside nine other celebrities, will be sealed inside yellow boxes and dropped into mystery locations where they face unpredictable physical, mental and logical challenges with little to no instruction.

Asked about her strategy on the show, Ranvir said: ‘I suppose I was never really seen as a threat. I wasn’t the fastest. I never fully understood the game. 

‘I’m not especially competitive. I was much more interested in enjoying the experience. Some of the others were incredibly competitive, they were absolutely determined to eliminate each other.’

Touted as a replacement for Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, each episode of The Box concludes with ‘The Duel’, an elimination showdown where two players face off.

Asked about this being the first time hosting a big entertainment show, Lineker said: ‘It’s different – it’s something I’ve never done before, which appealed to me, alongside the unique nature of the concept.’

Lineker signed the huge deal with ITV after leaving the BBC last year following an anti-semitism row. 

The former Match of the Day presenter was axed after sharing a pro-Palestine Instagram video which featured an emoji of a rat, with critics accusing him of promoting a familiar anti-Semitic slur. 

He later ‘apologised unreservedly’ for his actions, saying he was unaware of the meaning of the symbol and added: ‘I would never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic – it goes against everything I stand for.’

He said that stepping down from his role with the BBC – where he was once the highest paid star – was ‘the responsible course of action’.

The Box begins Saturday, September 5 on ITV1 and ITVX. 

By CLAUDIA AORAHA, DEPUTY HEAD OF NEWS

Published: 21:22 BST, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 22:15 BST, 30 August 2026

More than 20 hikers and backpackers who were making their way through Arizona‘s Grand Canyon have been declared missing after flash floods.

Parts of the scenic canyon were hit by significant flash flooding on Saturday around 2:30pm, and authorities are searching for at least 20 unaccounted people.

The missing hikers are believed to have been trekking on routes near the Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of the national park.

Authorities also are asking for the public to help identify people who were traveling near the North Kaibab Trail from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch.

Advertisement

This includes anyone that was staying at Bright Angel Campground, or traveling or staying in the area known as ‘the Box’ north of Phantom Ranch. 

Over 62 people were evacuated from the spot yesterday amid the flooding. 

All footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed in the freak weather event, meaning that pedestrians cannot get across the creek, which has flooded. 

The National Park Service said in a statement: ‘Grand Canyon National Park staff, in coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, are continuing evacuation and response efforts and working to account for individuals who may have been in the affected area.’ 

Advertisement

The missing hikers are believed to have been treking on routes near the Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of the national park

All footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed in the freak weather event, meaning that pedestrians cannot get across the creek, which has flooded

Debris is seen being taken down stream during the flash flooding

Advertisement

Horrific videos from the scene in the Grand Canyon showed mudslides tearing through the landscape, as hikers filmed from a suspended bridge above. 

Large mounds of debris were seen floating on the brown water, with Grand Canyon historian Tom Martin writing in a Facebook post that the debris flow out of Bright Angel Creek – including sediment, trees, bridges and structures – had formed a dam that raised the effective height of the Colorado River by approximately eight feet.

The Black and Silver bridges, and traffic to the Colorado River in the area, are now closed ‘until further notice,’ due to debris in the water, authorities said. 

It is unclear who the 20 missing people are, or where they are from. 

Advertisement

‘There is currently no estimated reopening date for these areas and other inner canyon closures may be necessary,’ a press release said as additional storms are forecasted.

A flood watch remains in effect for parts of northern Arizona, amid a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Sunday and a 60 percent chance on Monday.

Over 62 people were evacuated from the spot yesterday amid the flooding – but there are at least 20 people unaccounted for

The National Park Service said on Sunday that it is seeking information about more than 20 people who may be missing or unaccounted for in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area

Advertisement

Phantom Ranch is a popular lodge among visitors and hikers. It is located near the Grand Canyon by Bright Angel Creek. 

This is a breaking news story. 

The Conquest Man was discovered 50 years ago in Lincolnshire, while living during one of England’s most pivotal moments and has had his face revealed for the first time

Scientists have finally unveiled a facial reconstruction of a mystery man who lived through England’s nation-defining Norman Conquest following ground-breaking research on his 1,000-year-old skeleton.

The remains of “Conquest Man” were discovered about 50 years ago at St Peter’s Church in Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire. English Heritage and Historic England spent half a century working to gain a better understanding of the unknown man’s background, including undertaking DNA analysis.

They said the results finally shed new light on experts’ understanding of a tumultuous period which changed the course of English history. Experts say the facial reconstruction of the man brings us face-to-face with an everyday person who survived the Norman Conquest for the very first time.

The man was of mixed heritage, just over five feet tall, stocky, muscular, aged between 50-60 and had several healed fractures. He was given a privileged burial – steeped in Scandinavian ritual – in the Norman-owned church of one of William the Conqueror’s knights.

He was laid to rest in a coffin made from an oak tree felled around 1079 with his arms folded, head supported on a grass pillow and kept from falling sideways by two lumps of local chalk. Three apple wood staffs – which are known to be grave goods in the Scandinavian tradition – were also found by his side.

Kevin Booth, English Heritage’s head curator of collections, who coordinated the study, said: “I’ve been fascinated by this individual – this man of the Conquest – for 20 years. Who was he, what did he experience, could he have been at the Battle of Hastings, what sort of person might he have been?

“With this new analysis, it feels like we can really get close to him. To be able to now look at his face is to feel we can almost speak to him. More than that, it makes us think of his role at the time of the Conquest – his loyalties and anxieties.

Advertisement

“The classic way of understanding the Battle of Hastings is binary; ‘them and us’. But what Conquest Man illustrates is so much richer than that. We don’t know if he was ‘Saxon’ or ‘Norman’.

“He may have been neither – a man of continental, Scandinavian influences – but then, what many of us don’t realise, is that this was true for both ‘sides’ at the Battle. By the 11th century, we were an Anglo-Scandinavian nation, and there was a similarly strong Scandinavian influence in Normandy.

“Anglo, Scandinavian and Norman interests were closely connected. He’s a fascinating survivor of a cataclysmic period in history, born in the reign of Viking King Cnut, he survived the Norman Conquest to be buried with honour next to a pre-Conquest church, part of the new Norman world.

“It seems to me his legacy is of survival, resilience and adaptation. I hope that by sharing his story in this way, when people go to our Battle of Hastings re-enactment or visit the Bayeux Tapestry – of course they can cheer on who they like – but maybe he can help us not to pigeonhole those who fought and died there, but to understand them as human above all.”

English Heritage worked alongside researchers from Historic England, the Crick Institute, the British Geological Survey, University of Southampton, muVIS and FaceLab. The research process involved a series of tests on his skeleton including osteological analysis, Ancient DNA, Isotope analysis and the digital facial reconstruction.

The DNA results suggests substantial ancestry from continental Europe, while his burial included objects and practices associated with Scandinavian traditions. Boffins say the oxygen levels in one of his teeth are consistent with time spent in a cold climate as an adolescent, while the strontium levels are more compatible with the area closer to Barton on Humber.

Human skeletal biologist at Historic England, Dr. Sarah Stark said: “The science does not point to one simple homeland for this individual. Instead, his skeleton, burial, ancient DNA and isotope results suggest a man connected to the wider continental world.

“He may have travelled to Barton, or he may have been born locally into a community already shaped by those connections. In either case, his burial suggests that the traditions associated with him were meaningful and recognisable within the Barton community, reminding us that identity in 11th-century England was far more complex than simple categories like Saxon or Norman.”

Members of the public will be able to see the remains of Conquest Man at St Peter’s Church on September 20.

By CODIE BULLEN, SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 21:14 BST, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 22:03 BST, 30 August 2026

They were once rivals on the pitch, and in recent years found themselves clashing over opinions.

But Graeme Souness and Gary Lineker were forced to put their differences aside while working together on ITV’s new celebrity gameshow The Box, three years after he called out the Match Of The Day host for refusing to apologise for tweets criticising the Government’s migrant bill.

Lineker made headlines in March 2023 after being suspended by the BBC for refusing to apologise over criticism of the Government’s bill on illegal migrants. After days of dramatic fallout, which saw his colleagues Ian Wright and Alan Shearer show support by boycotting the programme, Lineker was reinstated to his role.

But at the time, Souness claimed that Lineker, Shearer and Wright should keep their opinions to themselves because freedom of speech ‘doesn’t apply’ for BBC employees.

Advertisement

‘It wasn’t Gary Lineker’s first time upsetting people, and I don’t think he should’ve said what he did because when you take the BBC’s money you have to be very careful with what you say politically. Freedom of speech is something that doesn’t apply when you work for the BBC, I think you have to be very careful,’ Souness said on William Hill’s Up Front with Simon Jordan podcast.

And during The Box’s launch event in London ahead of the series debut on September 5, Souness couldn’t help but take a playful jibe at Lineker.

Graeme Souness (pictured) and Gary Lineker were forced to put their differences aside while working together on ITV ’s new celebrity gameshow The Box

Advertisement

The ex-Liverpool midfielder admitted he wanted to ‘smash Lineker a few times’ during filming.

Lineker watched the 10 celebrity contestants compete in unpredictable physical, mental, and logical challenges with little to no instruction.

‘It was revenge for that tackle at Anfield in 1981,’ Lineker responded to the dig, to which Souness responded: ‘Is it a bit too late to apologise?’

Elsewhere, several other contestants revealed what Lineker was really like as host of the new gameshow.

Advertisement

Love Island’s Shakira Khan revealed: ‘They had to keep Gary away from us because of his poker face.

‘He would watch the challenges before, when they tested them, and he would be like, “Oh, so and so did this earlier so you did better than them!” He was really encouraging.’

JLS star JB Gill added that Lineker wasn’t allowed to socialise with them off camera due to his knowledge of the show.

Lineker made headlines in March 2023 after being suspended by the BBC for refusing to apologise over criticism of the Government’s bill on illegal migrants

Advertisement

Ellie Taylor also said: ‘We saw him around challenges. He was great, he was lovely and supportive. He really enjoyed the process and was invested in the show. And I think having that sort of energy at the top of the show sort of trickled down to the rest of us. He was fab.’

Touted as a replacement for Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, each episode of The Box concludes with ‘The Duel’, an elimination showdown where two players face off.

Asked about this being the first time hosting a big entertainment show, Lineker said: ‘It’s different – it’s something I’ve never done before, which appealed to me, alongside the unique nature of the concept.’

Lineker signed the huge deal with ITV after leaving the BBC last year following an anti-semitism row.

Advertisement

The former Match of the Day presenter was axed after sharing a pro-Palestine Instagram video which featured an emoji of a rat, with critics accusing him of promoting a familiar anti-Semitic slur.

He later ‘apologised unreservedly’ for his actions, saying he was unaware of the meaning of the symbol and added: ‘I would never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic – it goes against everything I stand for.’

He said that stepping down from his role with the BBC – where he was once the highest paid star – was ‘the responsible course of action’.

The Box begins Saturday September 5 on ITV1 and ITVX. 

Advertisement

More than 80,000 punters are attending the festival and at least 4,000 men and women are working at the event, which began on Friday and is the biggest music and arts event in Ireland

A worker at Electric Picnic has been charged with assaulting a punter at the festival.

The Irish Mirror has learned that the teenage staff member is alleged to have punched the festival-goer.

Sources tell us the alleged victim suffered a suspected broken jaw and a serious cut to the eye in the incident.

It is alleged the assault happened in the early hours of Saturday morning, the second day of the festival at Stradbally, Co Laois.

More than 80,000 punters are attending the festival and at least 4,000 men and women are working at the event, which began on Friday and is the biggest music and arts event in Ireland.

Sources tell us the festival has largely passed off without incident, but gardai were contacted by an attendee early on Saturday who alleged he had been assaulted by a male working at the site.

Officers on duty at the site quickly began an investigation and later arrested a teenage worker there.

He was later charged with assault causing harm and appeared at a special sitting of Tullamore District Court in Co Offaly on Saturday evening.

The maximum penalty for that offence is five years in prison and a fine at Circuit Court level.

Gardai confirmed to us on Sunday that a man had been charged following an alleged incident in Stradbally. We understand that the incident took place at the festival itself.

A spokesman told us: “Gardaí arrested an adult male (aged his late teens) in connection with an alleged assault in Stradbally, Co. Laois on Saturday 29th August 2026.

“The male has since been charged and has appeared before Court.”

We have approached Electric Picnic for comment.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Manchester United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Crystal Palace and France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta before the transfer deadline.

Mateta has racked up 62 goals and 14 assists in all competitions since joining Palace from Bundesliga outfit Mainz for a fee of just £9million back in 2022.

In that time, the 29-year-old has established himself as a central figure at Selhurst Park while helping the club win the FA Cup, the Europa Conference League and the Community Shield under previous manager Oliver Glasner.

However, Mateta faced heavy criticism from the fanbase after trying to push through a move to AC Milan over the winter – which ultimately collapsed after he failed a medical at the San Siro.

The speculation surrounding Mateta’s future has continued into this summer, too, with the France international rejecting several contract offers from Palace in order to pursue a possible opportunity elsewhere.

According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Aston Villa are the latest team to make an offer – worth between £25-25million – for Mateta as they look to tie down a replacement for Ollie Watkins.

However, it’s claimed the bid was ‘immediately rejected’ as it was ‘well short’ of Palace’s asking price for the 6 ft 4 in centre-forward.

Crook claims United and Tottenham have been offered Mateta, with both clubs scouring the market for last-minute attacking reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday.

United have focussed their attentions on bolstering their options in central midfield this summer, signing Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba from Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton respectively.

Spurs, meanwhile, have added Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes to their ranks in the middle of the mark, while also bringing in Savio, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senese, Andrew Robertson and Martin Dubravka.

The north London outfit also signed Omar Marmoush on a season-long loan from Manchester City earlier this week.

Mateta suffered a hamstring injury in training prior to Palace’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Friday night and is expected to be sidelined for the next four weeks.

‘He was injured two days before the game at the end of a session with individual work,’ Palace manager Pierre Sage told the BBC when asked about the Frenchman absence.

‘It was crazy but it’s like this and we lost him maybe for four weeks at least.’

Asked if Ismaila Sarr and Mateta would still be Palace players at the end of the window, Sage replied: ‘I hope so, in every situation we have to adapt.

‘I’m not frustrated with this kind of situation because I understand the moment and all the managers have to deal with that – it’s the same for everybody.

‘We have to adapt and maybe sometimes you know an hour before the game that a player is sold so you have to let him out.

‘Sometimes you have good news on Monday and maybe it will be like this.’

Mateta has just 12 months remaining on his current contract at Selhurst Park.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Chelsea star Joao Pedro slammed for ‘ungrateful’ act during Brighton win

MORE: Gary Neville makes bold Arsenal title claim after Man Utd victory

MORE: Rio Ferdinand claims £57m Man Utd star is ‘the best in the world’ after Ipswich win

Julia & Sofia’s, on Church View in Sedgefield, now has 143 “excellent” reviews on TripAdvisor — the highest rating available to contributors on the travel and review platform.

The restaurant serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes including pizza, pasta, seafood and Italian favourites, and has earned a strong reputation among both regular customers and visitors to County Durham.

One recent TripAdvisor reviewer, who visited while holidaying in the area, praised the restaurant’s welcome and its handling of dietary requirements.

They said: “On holiday in the area for a few days and decided to try for evening meal.

“The kerb look is excellent. Looks very inviting. The inside is just as good.

“We found the staff, atmosphere, and food excellent. One of the party had a couple of dietary requirements and these were dealt with.

“Recommend this to anyone in the area. Unfortunately we live 180 miles away so will be a little while before we can visit again.”

‘Mind-blowingly fantastic pizza’

Another diner described their meal as “perfect”, writing: “Mind-blowingly fantastic pizza, phenomenal service and really nice atmosphere.

“Couldn’t find anything to mark down. This place is a bit of a gem. Will look forward to my next visit. Perfect!”

Another customer praised the choice available and said they planned to return.

They wrote: “Great atmosphere, extensive menu, high quality food, sufficiently varied wine list, staff very pleasant, will definitely recommend and return.”

The latest comments build on earlier reviews which saw Julia & Sofia’s described as serving “the most authentic Italian pizza” and as being among the best Italian restaurants in County Durham.

One previous contributor said: “We went for our wedding anniversary. Service is cheerful and professional, no pressure. Food is stunning and gently perfectly cooked. Great wine list.

“Must be one of the best Italians in County Durham. A big thank you.”

Another called the venue a “gem of an Italian”, while a regular praised the restaurant’s attentive service and said: “We have always come to Julia and Sofia’s and it never fails.”

The restaurant is located on Church View in Sedgefield, close to the historic town centre and its village green.

Julia & Sofia’s opening times

• Sunday: 12pm to 8pm
• Monday: 12pm to 2pm and 5pm to 10pm
• Tuesday: 12pm to 2pm and 5pm to 10pm
• Wednesday: 12pm to 2pm and 5pm to 10pm
• Thursday: 12pm to 2pm and 5pm to 10pm
• Friday: 12pm to 2pm and 5pm to 10pm
• Saturday: 12pm to 10pm

Joe Root is “not too concerned” about his recent modest returns with the bat, saying he has “14,000 runs for a reason”.

Captain Root, England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer, has passed 50 only twice this summer. An average of 29.44 is his second-lowest in a home season in a 14-year international career.

The 35-year-old has been lbw nine times in his past seven Tests, including on seven occasions this summer.

But Root pointed to the challenge faced by all batters against the moving ball in the UK this summer and his own remarkable Test career. Only India great Sachin Tendulkar has more than the Yorkshireman’s 14,208 runs.

“I’ve played this game a long time and I’ve always found ways of solving those problems and working it through,” Root told the BBC’s Today at the Test. “I don’t see this as being any different.

“There’s a reason why I’ve got 14,000 runs and a reason why I’ve played the best part of 15 years at this level.

“Of course it’s frustrating that there’s sort of a trend. There are probably four umpires’ calls within that, which could have gone the other way, and the ball is probably deviating more than it ever has.

“You try and be realistic and understand where everything’s at, but also be aware of what you need to do to keep improving and keep getting better. I’m pretty sure I’ll get through the other side. I’m not too concerned about that.”

Last summer, former Australia opener David Warner took a dig at Root’s prospects of success in the Ashes series that was to follow when he said: “He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg.”

At the time, Warner’s suggestion Root had an lbw problem was incorrect. In a run that began in August 2022 and ended with the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne in December, Root was lbw to seam bowlers in Test cricket on only three occasions.

However, Root’s recent run of leg-before dismissals began when he was trapped by Australia’s Jhye Richardson in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test. Since then he has been lbw nine times in 12 innings, all to pace bowlers.

Root’s specific problem has been against right-arm bowlers, pitching the ball outside off stump and nipping it back towards him.

Of the nine dismissals in his run of lbws, none have come at the hands of bowlers with high pace, rather those with a maximum speed of around 84mph.

“You’re never given anything in this game,” said Root. “You have to work for everything. You have to keep working hard and I’ll certainly keep doing that.

“You’re constantly going to get challenged and you’re constantly going to have to look to evolve and learn, but that’s never been something I’ve shied away from and I certainly won’t be doing moving forward.”

Root not only highlighted the difficulty of conditions, but also suggested batting is being made harder by what he perceived to be a different technique employed by ball manufacturers Dukes.

“The balls have been different this summer,” he said. “I think there is a different lacquer. They were worried about it going out of shape. They are denting surfaces more.”

When contacted by the BBC, Dukes denied any alteration to its process.

Root was backed to solve the lbw issue by former England captain Michael Vaughan, who said: “He’s always overcome problems and I’m pretty sure he’ll overcome this one.

“It is an issue because it’s happening on a regular basis, but he’s had issues in the past that he’s managed to come back from. There’s no question he’ll be fine in time.”

Passengers on board a ferry said that the crew ignored their warnings that the boat was taking on water before it sank off the coast of northern Cyprus, killing eight people. 

Searches are continuing into the night for around 18 people who are still missing after a ferry carrying 270 passengers capsized and sank.

The ship’s captain and seven crew members have been arrested as part of an investigation into the boat’s demise.

The doomed vessel set off from the port of Kyrenia, also known as Girne, at 11.58am, headed for the Turkish port of Tasucu in the province of Mersin, where it was expected to arrive at 5.52pm local time. 

Tragedy struck just 15 minutes after setting off as the boat began to take on water.

After setting off in stormy conditions, passengers told Turkish Cypriot journalist Tumay Tugyan that they asked to return to port.

They warned that the vessel was taking on water but were ignored by the captain and crew.

As it began to sink and passengers became more concerned, a scramble began for life jackets.

Footage shows the upside-down ferry in the water, with people wearing life vests on top of its orange hull

Some can be seen sitting on the outer hull of the upturned vessel in life jackets

Advertisement

Former President of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar meets with families waiting at the port entrance

Families gather at a hospital, as 18 people remain missing from the vessel

Video footage showed chaotic scenes on board, as life jackets were in short supply, leading to some jumping into the water without any buoyancy aids.

One rescued passenger said he spent an hour and a half in the water before being rescued.

The man, aged in his 50s and not named, told local Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) television that the front of the boat ‘exploded’ and the ‘side windows ‘blew out’ as the boat took on more and more water. 

‘Those who could, got out,’ he said, adding that he saw the captain among the first to abandon ship ‘without organising anything’. 

Moments later the boat capsized 6.5 kilometres (four miles) off the coast of Cyprus.

Several rescued passengers told local media that a blast had gone off at the bow before it rolled over.  

Another witness, in his thirties, corroborated reports of an explosion. He said he had reported water leaks to the captain.

‘The seats started to float, the captain kept going, and the bow exploded,’ he said.

A major rescue operation remains ongoing and will continue into the night, after Turkish Cypriot coastguard boats and rescue helicopters rushed to the scene earlier today.

Ambulances were ⁠also dispatched to the scene to take survivors to local hospitals.

‘The vessel had been moving very badly. It was constantly lifting out of the water and slamming back down. It was shaking violently,’ survivor Efe Multici told CNN Turk.

He added: ‘Three or four minutes later, the ferry leapt high into the air, then came crashing down. The front left side burst open and water started pouring in.’

The ferry had been carrying a total of 267 people, according to authorities, of which 161 were rescued and taken to hospital and 76 have returned home.

The government of the self-styled TRNC has declared a three-day mourning period over the tragedy. 

Unal Ustel, prime minister of the self-proclaimed TRNC, confirmed the ship’s captain and seven crew members had been arrested.

Declaring it the ‘biggest maritime disaster’ in the country’s history, he said rescue operations would continue until all of the missing people are found.

He added: ‘We are deeply saddened. There has been loss of life and there are injuries.

‘We are on the ground with all our resources.’

The TRNC’s transport minister Erhan Arikli said the ferry had ‘completely sunk to a depth of 514 metres (1,686 feet)’.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his condolences and said his government was coordinating with Northern Cyprus in the search-and-rescue effort.

‘We hope we’ll be receiving positive news,’ Mr Erdogan said on Sunday in Ankara while speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Turkish Military Academy.

A Foreign Office spokesman told the Daily Mail: ‘We are liaising with local authorities following a ferry incident in northern Cyprus.’

Currently, it is unknown whether any British people were on board.

Survivors pictured on board a rescue boat heading back to the shore where ambulances are waiting

The Filo Jet vessel is a high-speed craft, 40 metres long and 10 metres wide, that sails under the flag of Turkey, according to Marine Traffic (stock image) 

Advertisement

A helicopter brings survivors ashore after they were rescued from the sea

Reports suggest the vessel began ⁠taking on water between two to four miles ​off the shore 

The distance by sea between Kyrenia and Taşucu is approximately 40 miles, with the crossing relatively short compared to other Mediterranean ferry routes.

The Cyprus Department of Meteorology’s forecast for the north coast today described the sea as generally Slight – meaning the water had small, gentle waves.

After around two miles offshore, ships become more exposed and can move noticeably with the waves.

The mayor of Kyrenia, Murat Senkul, said the situation is ‘very serious’ and rescue teams are still trying to reach 23 people.

He said the ship belonged to the Filo Denizcilik ferry company and sank off the coast of Diana beach on the island’s northern coast.

The TRNC, which is recognised only by Turkey, controls the northern third of the island of Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974.

Ankara occupied that part of the island that year in response to an Athens-engineered Greek Cypriot coup seeking union with Greece. The TRNC today is served with regular air and sea links to Turkey.

Cypriot government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis said in a post on X Sunday that the government had expressed its readiness to assist in search-and-rescue efforts with all available means.

‘In these trying times, our thoughts are with those who lost their lives, those who were injured and all those who are living this tragedy,’ Mr Letymbiotis said.

‘At such times, the protection of human life is paramount.’

Survivors arrive on shore after being rescued from the sea after the boat capsized off Kyrenia, northern Cyprus

Rescue boats bring passengers to shore from the capsized ferry on Sunday afternoon

A statement on the ferry company Filo Denizcilik’s website reads: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred on August 30, 2026, on our vessel, Filo Jet, in Girne.

‘Our company’s sole and most urgent priority at this time is the safety of our 259 passengers and crew on board.

‘From the moment the incident occurred, a crisis management team was established within our company, and all our resources were mobilized to the field in full coordination with all authorized search and rescue teams. Search and rescue and evacuation operations are continuing uninterrupted and with the utmost care.

‘We share the great concern of the families and loved ones of our passengers. To provide passengers’ families with immediate and accurate information, a special crisis and information hotline has been established.

‘Our prayers and all our strength are with the passengers, crew, and rescue teams on board the ship.’

Emergency services are on their way to scene in Great Habton near Flamingo Land.

The property has possibly been struck by lightning following the earlier storm.

The thunder and lightning is expected to continue into the night.

More on this as we get it.

Have you taken pictures of this evening’s storm?

Email your photos to karen.darley@nqyne.co.uk