Üstel: New Search and Rescue Vessel to Begin Operations Monday

Speaking during an extraordinary session of the TRNC Parliament convened following the disaster, Üstel said the bodies of 14 of the 28 people reported missing had been recovered, while 14 remained unaccounted for. He said the new search and rescue vessel was expected to arrive on the island on Sunday evening and begin operations on Monday.

Üstel said the vessel had 267 passengers scheduled to travel, but eight did not board, meaning it departed with 259 passengers.

He said a call for assistance was made to the Coast Guard approximately 10 minutes after the vessel departed, and teams reached the area shortly afterwards.

The vessel rapidly took on water and sank to a depth of 554 metres within a short period, Üstel said. Some passengers jumped into the sea, some reached life rafts, while others moved to parts of the vessel that had not yet sunk.

Search and rescue operations were launched by land, sea and air, Üstel said, adding that he also travelled to the scene shortly afterwards.

A total of 239 people were rescued and taken to hospitals for treatment, he said.

‘14 Bodies Recovered, 14 People Still Missing’

Üstel said a crisis centre was established following the disaster and that operations were being coordinated with President Tufan Erhürman, government officials, the Security Forces Command, the Turkish Cypriot Peace Force Command and the Turkish Embassy in Nicosia.

He said relatives of those missing were being briefed several times a day.

Eight bodies were recovered during the initial phase, followed by six more during subsequent search and rescue operations, Üstel said.

“Fourteen bodies have been recovered, while the bodies of 14 people have yet to be found. Search and rescue operations are continuing,” he said.

New Vessel to Arrive Sunday Evening

Üstel said private companies had also been contacted to accelerate search and rescue efforts and that, with Turkey’s support, presentations had been received from two companies specialising in deep-sea operations.

Following a high-level meeting at the Turkish Presidential Complex, a contract was signed with one of the companies, Üstel said. The new vessel departed Istanbul, passed through the Dardanelles and is now heading towards the island.

The vessel is expected to arrive on Sunday evening and begin operations on Monday, he said.

Üstel said the new vessel had different technical capabilities from the Alemdar and Işın, which are currently involved in the search operation. It is capable of reaching the wreck at a depth of 554 metres and entering the vessel using robotic systems, he said.

The robots can clear obstacles when necessary and reach the interior sections of the vessel, allowing operators to quickly determine whether any bodies are inside, Üstel said.

“We believe we will reach the 14 bodies and return them to their families as soon as possible,” he said.

‘We Are Meeting All the Families’ Needs’

Üstel said the state was covering the health, accommodation and other needs of the relatives of those missing, with support being provided in coordination with Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri.

Emphasising the scale of the tragedy, Üstel said the necessary regulations must be introduced to prevent similar disasters from happening again.

‘If There Are Shortcomings From the Past, We Will Address Them’

Üstel noted that the main opposition had submitted a motion to establish a parliamentary inquiry committee into the disaster and said the government had also submitted a motion to the same effect.

Pointing out that the TRNC is an island country, Üstel said: “If there are shortcomings in some of the regulations inherited from the past, let us address them from now on.”

He said previous maritime accidents in the country should also be examined, including whether parliamentary inquiry committees had been established at the time and what measures had been introduced following those incidents.

“What matters here is not blaming individuals, but determining how we can manage the process better from now on and how we can ensure that such suffering is never experienced in this country again,” Üstel said.

‘It Is Wrong to Blame Anyone Before the Investigation Is Complete’

Üstel said the necessary steps for an administrative investigation had been taken from the first day of the disaster and that a technical team of Turkish experts specialising in the vessel had also arrived in the TRNC.

He said the experts had begun their work following the initiative of Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and would examine every stage of the vessel’s history, from the date it was built to the present, as well as previous incidents involving the vessel.

Üstel said the parliamentary inquiry committee would also assess the information obtained during the investigation.

“It is wrong to blame anyone while the process is ongoing and the investigation is still underway. Once the investigation is completed, the law will make its decision and take the necessary action. We have stated this at every level, from the lowest to the highest,” he said.

Üstel stressed that there would be no concealment or covering up of any documents as part of the investigation, adding that the government would continue to closely follow the process.