Ünal Üstel, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said that 237 people were recovered from a ship carrying 267 passengers that collapsed off the coast of Girne, 7 people died, and search and rescue activities are still on for 23 more.
The passenger ship, owned by a private corporation, left Girne Port about 12:30 PM and was on its route to Taşucu Port in Mersin when it began taking on water for an unexplained cause shortly after leaving.
After the ferry began to take on water, the captain’s distress calls prompted the coast guard and port officials to send rescue crews to the scene.
Türkiye provides air support for the search efforts for the 23 people
President Tufan Erhürman of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) told an Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter that four TRNC Coast Guard vessels and two Security Forces Command helicopters immediately began rescue operations from the moment the accident occurred, and that two Turkish Navy vessels, which were in the country for the August 30 Victory Day celebrations, also joined the efforts.
Erhürman stated that rescue teams had rescued 237 people and recovered the bodies of 7 others from the ship that capsized while traveling from Girne to Mersin Taşucu, adding, “Search efforts for the 23 missing people are continuing with 2 UAVs and a Casa-type aircraft belonging to the Turkish Armed Forces. In addition, 1 helicopter from the Turkish Air Force, 2 helicopters from the Coast Guard Command, and 2 Coast Guard vessels from Turkey are participating in the search and rescue operations.”
Erhürman stated that additional resources and capabilities sent from Türkiye were quickly deployed to Girne, that the 237 rescued individuals were in good health, that only two children were admitted to intensive care as a precaution, and emphasized that both the TRNC and Türkiye were mobilizing all their resources to find the 23 missing people.
Erhürman said that everyone was “in deep shock” because they had never encountered such a large-scale accident in Cyprus before, and added, “Our condolences to everyone. May we all recover quickly.”
TRNC President Tufan Erhürman thanked Türkiye, saying, “The Republic of Türkiye, with all its resources and capabilities, has been by our side from the very first moment, as always.”
TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel: All institutions of our state are on the ground
Üstel stated that 237 of the 267 people on board were rescued, 7 lost their lives, and search and rescue efforts were continuing for the remaining 23.
Pointing out that search and rescue operations were being carried out with numerous teams, Üstel said that the injured rescued from the sea were being treated in hospitals and that the TRNC Ministry of Health was closely monitoring the situation regarding the injured.
Üstel emphasized that they are monitoring the process moment by moment with the Crisis Management Center established after the ship accident, stating, “All institutions of our state are on the ground. We are carrying out search and rescue operations with great care and closely following developments.”
Üstel offered his condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the accident, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Üstel stated that they will continue to share confirmed information with the public.
A written statement from the TRNC Prime Ministry stated that the “Crisis Management Team” formed after the passenger ship capsized off the coast of Girne met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Üstel, and that President Tufan Erhürman also went to the scene and received information from the crisis management team.
The statement noted that the Crisis Management Committee meeting was attended by the Ministers of Transport, Health, Interior, Finance, and Agriculture, as well as the Commander of the Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces, the Commander of the Security Forces, the Director General of Police, and the Head of the Civil Defence Organization.
It was emphasized that the meeting decided that search and rescue operations should continue uninterrupted by mobilizing all available resources, that the treatment processes of the injured should be closely monitored, and that all state institutions should continue to act in full coordination.
A study has been initiated by the Mersin Governorship
After a passenger ship capsized off the coast of Girne, a crisis management center was constructed at Taşucu Port in Mersin’s Silifke district.
As a preventive step, AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority), UMKE (National Medical Rescue Team), the gendarmerie, police, and health teams have been dispatched to Taşucu Port, which has been designated as a crisis management centre.
Mersin Governor Atilla Toros and Silifke District Governor Eyüp Fırat visited the port and met with the chiefs of key institutions.
Some survivors’ relatives from Mersin have begun to arrive at the port’s passenger terminal.
Governor Toros spoke with the family who had been transported to the waiting room.
Passengers were taken to hospitals in Northern Cyprus
Minister Arıklı gave a statement to an AA reporter regarding the latest condition of those rescued from the passenger ship that capsized off the coast of Girne.
Arıklı stated that the injured people rescued from the capsized ship were brought to Girne Port by coast guard and rescue teams, and that they would be taken to various hospitals in the TRNC depending on their condition.
Erhan Arıklı emphasized that the rescue efforts were being carried out with a large team, and noted that they were investigating the factors that caused the ship to capsize.
Eyewitnesses stated that some passengers jumped into the sea after the ship began taking on water.
Fishing boats in the area also reportedly joined the rescue efforts.
