According to a statement from the Prime Ministry, DNA analysis of another body whose identity has yet to be established is ongoing, while search efforts continue to locate the last missing person.
The Prime Ministry said search and rescue operations had reached their final stage.
The statement recalled that the vessel sank after taking on water shortly after departing Kyrenia Harbour on August 30, with 267 passengers and crew members on board. A total of 239 people survived, while eight people died on the day of the disaster.
19 Bodies Recovered
According to the statement, six bodies were recovered during operations conducted by the Turkish Navy vessels TCG IŞIN and TCG ALEMDAR, which were dispatched to the area with support from Turkey.
A further 13 bodies have been recovered using the specialised deep-sea search system Optimus Prime, which began operations on September 14. This brings the total number of bodies recovered during the search to 19.
The statement said operations were continuing with advanced underwater search technology around the wreck, located 554 metres below the sea, and in an area approximately 2.3 kilometres north of the vessel’s last known position. One body was also recovered from a depth of approximately 649 metres.
Extensive Area Scanned
The Prime Ministry said search teams had analysed approximately 5.5 billion cubic metres of water-column data, scanned 10 million square metres of seabed and visually surveyed an area covering 1.6 million square metres.
It added that all available state resources had been mobilised from the first day of the disaster and that search operations had continued uninterrupted in close cooperation with the Republic of Turkey.
The statement stressed that the priority remained locating the last missing person and returning the body to the family. It also expressed gratitude for Turkey’s technical and logistical support and for the dedication of the search teams.
The Prime Ministry extended its condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, wishing them strength and patience.
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