ISTANBUL: The death toll from a ferry accident off northern Cyprus increased to 12 on Friday after rescue teams recovered the bodies of two women. Authorities said 16 people remain missing as search operations continue around the sunken vessel.
The FiloJet ferry was carrying 267 people when it overturned shortly after leaving Kyrenia port on Sunday around midday. The port is located on the northern coast of the divided island.
Rescue teams initially saved 239 passengers and crew members. At that stage, authorities reported eight deaths and 20 missing people, with officials believing those still unaccounted for had gone down with the ferry.
Search efforts conducted around the clock have since located four additional victims. Two of the latest bodies were recovered on Friday morning, bringing the confirmed death toll to 12.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel said on X that two more bodies had been found and identified both victims as women. He added that efforts were continuing around the clock to locate the remaining 16 missing people.
Specialist divers and naval drones are being used to search the wreck, which is resting approximately 514 metres below the surface. Since Wednesday morning, two Turkish naval vessels equipped with underwater drone technology have been involved in the operation.
Before the latest discoveries, authorities said the eight confirmed fatalities were Turkish nationals. They also indicated that 18 of the 20 people initially listed as missing were Turkish citizens, while the other two were from northern Cyprus. Officials have not provided further nationality details for the four bodies recovered since Wednesday night.
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Investigators have yet to recover the ferry’s voyage data recorder, commonly known as the black box. The device could provide important information about the circumstances that led to the vessel capsizing.
The ferry’s captain and eight other people were placed in custody on Monday over negligent homicide allegations. They appeared again before a court in Kyrenia, also known as Girne, for a second hearing on Thursday.
During the hearing, police investigators reportedly said the incident could have been prevented if the captain had slowed the vessel and turned it back toward port after it began taking on water.
