A passenger ship capsized off Kyrenia, resulting in 8 fatalities and 20 missing. A three-day mourning period has been declared in Northern Cyprus.
The death toll from the capsizing of a passenger ship carrying 267 people, including 259 passengers and 8 crew members, off the coast of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has risen to 8. Following the tragedy, a three-day mourning period has been declared across Northern Cyprus, and the celebrations for August 30 Victory Day have been canceled.
As part of the investigation into the incident, 14 individuals, including the ship's captain, officials, and company representatives, have been brought before the court. A three-day detention order has been issued for 9 suspects.
Prime Minister Üstel reported that the number of survivors from the disaster has been updated to 239, while the number of missing persons is now 20. The identities of the 8 deceased and the 20 missing individuals have also been disclosed. Prime Minister Üstel stated that in addition to the 20 confirmed missing persons, there is another list of 40 individuals that have not yet been verified.
According to the latest statements, out of the 267 people on board the ship, 239 have been rescued so far, and 8 have lost their lives.
Among the 14 suspects detained in connection with the incident, the court has issued a three-day detention order for 9 of them.
Search and rescue operations for the 20 missing passengers continue on the second day.
IDENTITIES OF THE 8 DECEASED HAVE BEEN REVEALED
The identities of those who lost their lives in the accident have been confirmed.
The names of the deceased are announced as Nuray Zeytun, Nihat Balyemez, Reyhan Verim, Gülcan Gürel, Hüseyin Özdemir, Fahri Ateş, Nisa Toker, and Nurcan Haliloğlu.
THE NUMBER OF MISSING PERSONS HAS RISEN TO 20, IDENTITIES DISCLOSED
In a statement to reporters, Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel announced that the number of missing persons, along with the deceased, has increased from 18 to 20, and the identities of the 20 missing individuals have also been determined.
The names of the individuals missing in the shipwreck are as follows:
1. Ferdi Törer – Republic of Turkey
2. Mustafa Demir – Republic of Turkey
3. Mahmut Demir – Republic of Turkey
4. Özgür Gönül – Republic of Turkey
5. Anni Azel Hilaloğlu – Republic of Turkey
6. Şerife Özdemir – Republic of Turkey
7. Süleyman Erdoğan – TRNC
8. Saliha Miray Biçer – Republic of Turkey
9. Mehmet Asaf Biçer – Republic of Turkey
10. Orhan Bekret – Republic of Turkey
11. Nazmiye Özbolat – Republic of Turkey
12. Elmas Demir – Republic of Turkey
13. İsmail Kurt – TRNC
14. Yulia Özcan – Republic of Turkey
15. Ayhan Özcan – Republic of Turkey
16. Elife Bayır – Republic of Turkey
17. Nihat Pancar – Republic of Turkey
18. Mustafa Kemal Yaralı – Republic of Turkey
19. Mehmet Bayhan – Republic of Turkey
20. Mehmet Nuri Ayran – Republic of Turkey
A LIST OF 40 UNVERIFIED INDIVIDUALS EXISTS
Üstel also mentioned that besides the 20 confirmed missing names, there is another list of 40 individuals that have not yet been verified when comparing the passenger list with the names of those rescued.
Üstel stated, 'Therefore, there are still 40 individuals to be verified, and after those 40 are confirmed... But right now, there are 20 of our people who are missing and unverified.'
BODIES ARE BEING DELIVERED TO FAMILIES
According to Cyprus Real Newspaper, the bodies of the deceased are being delivered to their families.
The body of Nuray Zeytun has been handed over to her family for burial in Famagusta.
It has been learned that Nihat Balyemez's body has been sent abroad.
The bodies of Reyhan Verim, Gülcan Gürel, Hüseyin Özdemir, Fahri Ateş, Nisa Toker, and Nurcan Haliloğlu, whose identity verification and funeral procedures are ongoing, will also be sent abroad after the necessary flight arrangements are completed.
The search and rescue and investigation processes regarding the tragedy are ongoing.
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS CONTINUE FROM AIR AND LAND
After the ferry disaster off the coast of Kyrenia, search and rescue operations for the 20 missing persons have resumed on the second day. Aerial support is also being provided for the operations.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu shared the latest status of the search and rescue efforts. Uraloğlu stated, 'So far, 240 people have been rescued from the ship, which had 259 passengers and 8 crew members, and 8 people have lost their lives. Our search and rescue operations are still ongoing for 19 passengers.'
Emphasizing that all available resources are being mobilized, Uraloğlu stated, 'Following the incident, we have mobilized all our resources, especially our Naval Forces, TRNC Coast Guard, and Turkish Cypriot Coast Safety and Ship Salvage teams. The Coast Guard Command is conducting search and rescue operations in the area with 5 floating units and 2 Coast Guard helicopters.'
JUDGE REQUESTED 7 MORE INDIVIDUALS TO BE BROUGHT TO COURT
Along with the detained captain M.Ö., crew members M.S., M.G., S.E., V.H., R.İ., Z.Ö., and K.K., as well as company employee A.Ö., were brought before the Kyrenia Criminal Court.
The judge requested that 7 individuals, who are sought for 'causing death by negligence,' be brought to court after their identities have been verified.
The hearing resumed at 11:30 with 5 of the mentioned individuals being brought to court.
The court issued a 3-day detention order for 9 of the 14 suspects.
5 individuals, including 2 public officials, were released.
PASSENGERS' CLAIMS WILL BE INVESTIGATED
TRNC Minister of Public Works and Transport Arıklı stated that the claims raised by passengers regarding the accident will be investigated. Arıklı emphasized that they will thoroughly examine allegations that doors were locked on passengers and that the captain fled the ship. He noted that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport will initiate a separate investigation from the General Directorate of Police and will announce the results of the investigation regarding the ship's documents, qualifications, port permits, and safety measures to the public.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
