Hendra Wijaya
The search for 18 missing individuals continues in the aftermath of a tragic ferry accident off the coast of Northern Cyprus, where at least eight lives have been lost. The incident has sparked a three-day period of national mourning in the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), as authorities work tirelessly to locate those still unaccounted for.
The ferry, which was en route from the northern port of Girne, also known as Kyrenia, to the Turkish port of Tasucu in Mersin province, encountered trouble shortly after midday on Sunday. The vessel, one of several daily sea shuttle links between the two countries, was carrying 267 passengers and crew members at the time of the incident.
Local authorities swiftly initiated a major rescue operation, with 241 individuals successfully saved. However, the search for the remaining 18 passengers has been ongoing since the tragic event. The fate of the capsized ferry, now lying on the seabed at a depth of over 500 meters, remains a concern as authorities attempt to determine whether anyone is still trapped within.
Survivors have recounted harrowing tales of the accident, with some reporting that the ferry began taking on water before it capsized. Accounts vary, with some survivors suggesting they heard an explosion at the front of the vessel, while others believe there was a lack of adequate safety equipment on board. Video footage broadcast by Turkish television showed the capsized ferry with passengers wearing life jackets sitting atop its orange hull.
Efe Multici, a young man who managed to escape the sinking ferry, described the chaos and desperation that unfolded. “Some people had to jump without lifebuoys or life jackets,” he told CNN Turk. “It was literally a fight for survival.”
Serkan Kunduraci, another survivor, witnessed the tragic loss of life firsthand. “I saw some who didn’t know how to swim die in the sea,” he told the DHA news agency. “We saw and witnessed a family’s children, boys and girls, very young children, drowning.”
Rescuers have been working tirelessly to save lives, with Muhammed Ozcelik, the owner of a water sports company, being among the first on the scene. “We tried to do more than we could. People were saying, ‘Take me too, take me too,’ but the capacity was full,” he told the Associated Press agency.
The recovery of the vessel’s “black box” data recorder is crucial to understanding the cause of the incident, authorities said. Divers from Turkiye have been assisting in the search efforts, as the search for the missing individuals continues.
The incident has once again highlighted the need for rigorous safety measures and regular inspections of vessels operating in the region. The capsizing of the ferry has sent shockwaves through the local community, with families and friends of the missing and deceased struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which declared independence from Greek control in 1983 and is recognized only by Turkiye, has been split since 1974. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the north, a presence that has long been a source of tension in the region.
As the search for the missing continues, the international community remains hopeful that all those unaccounted for will be found safely. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with maritime travel and the importance of prioritizing safety at all times.
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