Search teams remain flying over the spot where a high-speed ferry with 267 people on board sank this Sunday in the waters of the Mediterranean, specifically north of Cyprus.
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So far, more than 200 people have been rescued and 17 remain missing, while the death toll stands at at least eight victims. The Turkish Cypriot authorities detained the captain and the other seven crew members of the ship in an incident that was reportedly caused by a storm at sea.
“We are facing a tragic accident that will go down in history as the greatest maritime disaster Cyprus has ever suffered,” said Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel. Meanwhile, the investigation has confirmed that the vessel, 40.5 meters in length belonging to the Turkish company Filo Denizcilik, had set sail from the port of Girne (Kirenia in Greek) bound for Turkey when it encountered bad weather.
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Rescue tasks
The Turkish Naval Forces deploy a ship capable of scanning depths of up to 1000 meters
The crew issued a distress call (mayday) at 12:10 local time to report that the ship was taking on water about three miles off the northern coast of Cyprus. Although rescue operations began immediately with the deployment of four Coast Guard boats, two helicopters, a patrol boat, an assault boat, and diving teams from Civil Defense and the Police, the ship ended up capsizing and sinking.
The shipping company has also formed an internal crisis management team to mobilize all its resources, according to a statement. These efforts have been joined in recent hours by two aircraft, four helicopters, four unmanned aerial vehicles, and four Coast Guard vessels deployed by the Turkish Armed Forces, the prime minister detailed. Additionally, the arrival of a search and rescue ship from the Turkish Naval Forces capable of scanning depths of up to 1000 meters is expected.
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