Key facts
- A Turkish deep-sea search vessel, the TCG Isin, has joined the recovery operation for a capsized ferry off Cyprus.
- The Filo Jet ferry sank on Sunday, resulting in eight confirmed deaths and 20 people still missing.
- 241 individuals were rescued from the 267 passengers and crew on board.
- The 26-year-old ferry's seaworthiness is being questioned, and its owners are facing legal scrutiny.
- The captain and seven crew members have been detained as part of an inquiry into the disaster.
A Turkish deep-sea search and rescue vessel, the TCG Isin, has been dispatched to Cyprus to aid in the recovery efforts following the capsizing of the high-speed ferry Filo Jet. The vessel sank on Sunday, approximately four nautical miles off the coast of Kyrenia, with 20 people still missing and eight confirmed fatalities. Authorities have confirmed that 241 of the 267 individuals on board were rescued.
The tragedy has prompted three days of national mourning in Turkish-held northern Cyprus. The TCG Isin, capable of searching depths up to 3,000 meters, is expected to be crucial in locating the ferry's voyage data recorder, or black box, which is considered key to understanding the cause of the disaster.
Turkish Cypriot officials are questioning the seaworthiness of the 26-year-old ferry and indicated that those responsible could face charges of gross negligence. The owners and shareholders of the private company operating the vessel have been ordered to appear in court.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage have emerged, depicting panic among passengers desperately seeking lifejackets as the ferry rapidly took on water and capsized. One passenger, Ayten Bice, recounted the harrowing experience of losing her 12-year-old daughter and two other children.
The ferry's captain and seven crew members were detained and appeared before a local magistrate. They attributed the sinking to the bow of the catamaran-style ferry breaking apart in turbulent seas. However, this account is contradicted by passenger testimonies, which suggest that pleas to turn back to port were ignored as the vessel began to flood.
Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel stated that the Filo Jet is lying on the seabed at a depth of 514 meters and anticipates the Turkish salvage ship will reach it by Tuesday afternoon. Extensive search operations involving boats, helicopters, and aircraft are continuing on a 24-hour basis. Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of easyJet, has offered €260,000 to support the families of the deceased and missing.