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Two more bodies have been recovered from waters off Girne, raising the death toll from Sunday’s ferry disaster to 12, while search teams continue looking for 16 people still missing, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Unal Ustel announced Friday.
The passenger ferry, which was traveling from Girne to Tasucu in southern Türkiye, capsized and sank off the northern coast of Cyprus. Earlier reporting identified the vessel as Filo Jet and said it was carrying 267 passengers and crew.
The Turkish Navy vessels TCG Isin and TCG Alemdar recovered the two bodies during deep-water search operations, Ustel said. Both victims were women, and police have begun efforts to establish their identities, Ustel said. The prime minister added that the search operations continue running around the clock.
The recovery operation is focused on the sunken ferry, whose wreckage was located about 550 meters below the surface off Girne.
TCG Isin began robotic scanning operations after arriving from Türkiye on Tuesday, using remotely operated underwater equipment to survey the seabed and determine possible access points around the wreck.
The vessels are also working to recover the ferry's black box.
Authorities are also investigating what caused the Filo Jet to capsize. Earlier reporting said the vessel began taking on water through its bow shortly after leaving Girne, before turning back toward the port.
The investigation has focused on the ferry's captain, crew members, a company employee and port officials. Fourteen suspects were brought before a Girne court, with nine, including the captain, crew members and company official, later remanded in custody.
The court released the other five pending further proceedings, while officials who authorized the vessel's departure were suspended pending the investigation.
The captain and crew told the court that the vessel capsized after its bow broke off amid rough waves. They also maintained that weather conditions had been suitable when the ferry departed and that the vessel had valid navigational and administrative certificates.
The TRNC Transport Ministry suspended all sea services operated by the company from Northern Cyprus until further notice following the disaster. Port officials who authorized the voyage were also removed from their positions as authorities reviewed the decisions that allowed the ferry to sail.
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