A specialized deep-water search team from Turkey is set to arrive to assist in the ongoing efforts to locate 20 individuals missing after a ferry capsized off the coast of northern Cyprus, an incident that has already claimed at least eight lives.
The double-hulled vessel, carrying 267 passengers and crew, began taking on water and overturned shortly after departing from the port town of Kyrenia on Sunday. Survivors were rescued by nearby boats after clinging to the overturned hull, but concerns remain that other passengers may have been trapped within the vessel's compartments as it sank.
The ferry wreck rests on the seabed at a depth exceeding 500 meters, a depth beyond the capabilities of local rescue resources. Tufan Erhurman, the Turkish Cypriot leader, stated that the arriving team possesses specialized equipment necessary for exploring the wreck and the surrounding seabed, enabling intervention efforts that were not previously possible.
The exact circumstances of the disaster are under investigation, although Turkish Cypriot authorities have confirmed that the vessel held a valid seaworthiness certificate. Eyewitness accounts suggest the catamaran ferry experienced violent lurching before crashing back into the water, with the impact reportedly causing damage to its bow.
In connection with the incident, nine individuals associated with the vessel's operations have been remanded into custody for three days to aid in the ongoing police investigation.
