Turkey deploys nine ships and 11 aircraft in Kyrenia ferry search
Turkey is supporting efforts to locate 14 people missing after a passenger ferry capsized off Kyrenia, while officials assess recovery and salvage options.
Kyrenia, Cyprus. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said nine ships and 11 aircraft are participating in efforts to recover the bodies of 14 people who remain unaccounted for after a passenger ferry sank off the coast of Kyrenia last week.
Erdogan said 239 people were rescued following the capsizing of the boat travelling from Kyrenia to Tasucu, while 14 people died and another 14 remain missing.
Search operation and investigation
Speaking after Monday’s cabinet meeting, Erdogan said Turkey was supporting the search operation in cooperation with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
He said North Cyprus authorities had launched an investigation following the accident and had taken eight crew members, including the ship’s captain, into custody. Erdogan added that official institutions were closely monitoring the judicial process.
Meetings on recovery and salvage
Turkish Cypriot prime minister Unal Ustel remained in Turkey to discuss reports prepared by specialised organisations experienced in deep-sea wreck searches and ship salvage operations.
Ustel said the parties would jointly evaluate steps to reach the missing people, continue work inside the vessel or salvage the wreck.
He said he would also meet senior officials from the boat’s insurance company to assess the situation and discuss how the process would proceed.
Ustel was then expected to travel to Ankara for high-level meetings with Turkish officials to evaluate the current situation, reports received and possible next steps. He said he would return to Cyprus to share a roadmap with the families of the missing and the public.
Research vessel refuelling
Turkish Cypriot acting transport minister Ozdemir Berova said the high-level meetings would take place on Tuesday and would be an important step towards clarifying the removal of the boat from the seabed.
Ustel’s office said on Monday afternoon that the TCG Isin, one of two deep-sea research vessels sent by Turkey’s navy to assist search-and-rescue efforts, had temporarily left waters off Cyprus to refuel.
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