A survivor of the FİLO JET disaster off Kyrenia has made a new claim that is now being investigated by authorities, alleging that he recovered two bodies from the catamaran that were not among those officially announced as victims.
The claim has added a new dimension to the investigation into the deadly sinking.
According to reports, the survivor, Seidi Alai, who had previously spoken to Politis about the disaster, was taken to a police station in Kyrenia after his allegations became public in order to provide a formal statement.
Claim of two unrecorded victims
According to Kıbrıs Postası, Alai told the outlet's news editor, Mustafa Baflı, that he had personally recovered the bodies of a man and a woman.
"I recovered two lifeless bodies. They are not among those who were announced," he was quoted as saying.
The website reported that he was expected to be released after giving his statement.
"The missing should be searched for inside the vessel"
Alai also maintains that search efforts for the missing should focus on the interior of the sunken catamaran rather than solely on the area surrounding the wreck.
In his interview with Politis, he said he was inside the vessel when it began experiencing serious difficulties in rough seas.
"As soon as we encountered the waves, we received the first strong impact. With the second impact, water started coming in."
According to his account, passengers warned the crew, but the vessel initially neither slowed down nor turned back.
"Although we warned them, they did not slow down and they did not return."
He said the situation deteriorated after the vessel attempted to change course.
"When they finally slowed down, they turned the ship. As soon as they turned it, the ship leaned to one side. When it tilted, a window broke and water started entering."
"I saw them with my own eyes"
Alai described scenes of panic as passengers from both the upper and lower decks attempted to move through a corridor and open doors while the vessel developed a severe list.
"When it leaned that much, everyone moved towards that side."
He believes that many of those still missing may have become trapped there.
"The people who are missing, those who have not been found, were in the corridor. I saw them with my own eyes. They became trapped there. There were suitcases in that area too and they remained underwater with them."
The claim has attracted additional attention following his assertion that he recovered two bodies that have not been included in the official death toll.
"I pulled out a man and a woman"
The survivor also described rescue efforts after the sinking, saying that approximately 90 minutes passed before he was picked up by Civil Defence personnel.
According to his account, the available rescue resources were insufficient for the number of people in the water.
"When Civil Defence picked me up, there was one person using rescue equipment and another directing him so they could get close and pick people up."
He said he then entered the water himself to assist.
"Because it was not enough, I went into the water myself. I saw dead people. I pulled two people out of the water. One man and one woman."
Allegations over life jackets
Alai also alleged that there were not enough life jackets on board.
According to him, a large number of passengers were unable to access life-saving equipment because insufficient life jackets were available.
Those allegations, together with his broader account of the events before and during the sinking, remain claims that authorities are expected to examine as part of the ongoing investigation.
"We told them not to leave"
The survivor also referred to weather conditions before departure.
He said he purchased his ticket about a month earlier and that the vessel had initially been scheduled to depart at 10:30am.
According to his account, departure was delayed until 12 noon because of adverse weather.
"We told them many times not to leave, but they did not listen to us."
He added:
"About ten minutes after the ship departed, it began to sink."
Lost passport and belongings
Alai told Politis that all of his personal possessions were lost with the vessel.
"They have not provided me with a place to stay. I do not know where I will stay. My suitcase, my money, my phone, everything remained there."
He said he spoke with Tufan Erhürman, who visited the area and took his contact details with the promise that accommodation would be arranged. At the time of the interview, however, he was still awaiting assistance.
His passport was also lost in the sinking, forcing him to obtain a temporary travel document from the consulate so he could eventually return to Turkey.
