Search continues for 20 missing as two Turkish vessels assist off Kyrenia

Kyrenia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and Turkish Cypriot “prime minister” Unal Ustel met relatives of missing people at Kyrenia port on Tuesday and briefed them on ongoing search operations. Twenty people remain missing, while eight deaths have been confirmed and all of the victims identified.

Search operation

Erhurman said an extremely delicate operation was under way and would take time. The TCG Isin joined the operation on Tuesday, while a second vessel, the TCG Alemdar, was expected to arrive in Kyrenia on Wednesday to assist.

He said the operation was focused on reaching the wreck, which lies at great depth, and recovering anything that could be located there.

“One of the ships with the most advanced technology in the world right now has arrived. The ship arriving tomorrow will also assist in the operations,” Erhurman said.

Investigations continue

Erhurman said judicial proceedings were moving quickly, while administrative and technical investigations were continuing in parallel.

He said families would be updated regularly and stressed that the operation would proceed slowly and carefully.

“If we don’t reach the results we want today, that doesn’t mean we’ll give up the effort. Tomorrow, operations will continue with the help of the second ship,” he said.

Relatives’ reaction

Some relatives of the missing people loudly jeered Erhurman when he arrived at the port.

Turkey’s “ambassador” to the occupied areas also faced the relatives’ anger when he arrived by car.