A total of 242 passengers were rescued alive after a boat sank off Kyrenia, while the death toll has risen to eight and the search continues for 17 people still missing. The captain of the vessel and seven crew members have been placed in custody.
‘Transport minister’, Erhan Arıklı, said the vessel had sunk to the seabed at a depth of 514 metres. A specially equipped vessel and divers are expected to arrive from Turkey to assist with the search operation.
Meanwhile, ‘prime minister’, Ünal Üstel, announced that an investigation had been launched to examine all aspects of the incident. He said the captain and seven members of the crew had been arrested.
'Worst maritime tragedy Cyprus ever experienced'
Describing the incident as ‘the worst maritime tragedy Cyprus has ever experienced’, Üstel said every aspect of the incident would be investigated. "Even the slightest negligence will be uncovered. There will be no leniency for anyone found to be responsible or to have failed in their duties," he said.
He also announced that a Turkish Navy search-and-rescue vessel was expected to arrive in the north. The vessel is capable of conducting searches at depths of up to 1,000 metres.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman said late on Sunday afternoon that the search operation is continuing at full intensity.
He specified the depth at which the vessel sank — 514 metres — was making operations considerably more difficult, particularly efforts to locate any people who may still be inside the vessel.
He added that various technological means were being used in the search.
SOS signal
The fiberglass vessel had departed from Kyrenia harbour bound for the port of Taşucu in Turkey’s Mersin province. The voyage had originally been scheduled for the previous day but was postponed because of adverse weather conditions. It eventually departed on Sunday, with a delay.
According to Turkish and Turkish Cypriot media reports on the incident, the vessel began taking on uncontrolled amounts of water from the forward section of the bow approximately four to five nautical miles from the coast.
The captain reportedly noticed the water ingress in time, issued an SOS distress signal and attempted to turn the vessel around in an effort to return to its port of departure.
During the manoeuvre, the vessel was hit by a succession of strong waves, causing it to suddenly list and capsize. Some reports also refer to a breach or the detachment of part of the bow during the attempted turn.
Large-scale rescue operation
A large-scale search-and-rescue operation was launched immediately after the distress signal was issued, under the coordination of a crisis-management centre.
Four Turkish Cypriot coastguard vessels and the passenger ship AKGÜNLER 3, which was in the vicinity, were immediately mobilised.
At the same time, Turkey’s Interior Ministry dispatched five Coast Guard vessels and two search-and-rescue helicopters to the area, while the Turkish Naval Forces Command deployed a further six naval units.
Members of the public, professional fishermen and operators of private boats also joined the search voluntarily, as the incident occurred relatively close to shore.
On land, health authorities placed the ambulance network and both public and private hospitals on the highest state of alert. Medical and nursing staff were recalled to carry out the immediate triage, treatment and management of injuries and hypothermia cases at Kyrenia harbour, where survivors were brought ashore.
Meanwhile, authorities have launched an investigation into the precise causes of the tragedy, examining possible mechanical failure, the vessel’s seaworthiness, its structural integrity and compliance with safety protocols.
'Transport minister' Erhan Arıklı, said that, in his assessment at the time of departure, weather conditions had not prohibited the vessel from putting to sea.
Messages of support and assurances that all necessary resources would be made available were also issued by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik.
Republic of Cyprus offers assistance
From the first moments after the incident, the Republic of Cyprus, through its Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), officially declared its readiness to provide immediate assistance to the search-and-rescue operation under way off Kyrenia, stressing that the protection of human life was its sole priority.
The Turkish Cypriot side has, for the time being, indicated that it does not require assistance, the JRCC said in a statement issued late Sunday afternoon.
According to information obtained by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the JRCC contacted the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), asking it to convey to the Turkish Cypriot side that the Republic of Cyprus was ready, if necessary, even to take over the entire operation using its available air and naval assets.
At the same time, the President of the Republic, through the Greek Cypriot negotiator, requested direct communication with the Turkish Cypriot leader in order to make clear the intention to provide every possible form of operational and logistical assistance.
According to the same sources, Nicosia’s position in comparable emergency situations remains firm and clear: when human lives are at stake, assistance is offered without conditions and with every available resource.
The Republic of Cyprus stressed that it has the modern equipment, operational capability and immediate readiness to deploy to the area.
UN expresses condolences
In a written statement, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, Khassim Diagne, said he was deeply saddened by the “tragic loss of life”.
On behalf of the United Nations in Cyprus, he extended his condolences to the Turkish Cypriot authorities and to the families and loved ones of those affected by the tragedy.
“Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this tragedy and with the rescue teams continuing their efforts to save lives,” he said.
