The death toll of a ferry capsizing accident that occurred off Northern Cyprus late last month has now increased to 12 following the recovery of additional victims’ bodies.
The latest figure of the death toll following the capsizing of the Turkish-flagged catamaran fast ferry Filo Jet was confirmed by Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel via a social media post on Friday, September 4.
The ongoing search operation is being conducted by surface and underwater assets of the Turkish Coast Guard Command the Turkish Navy. Local police are meanwhile continuing efforts at verifying the identities of the deceased victims.
Mr Üstel added that 16 other people who were on the ferry when it capsized just four nautical miles off the Northern Cyprus Port of Kyrenia on August 30 have not yet been found.
Filo Jet was transporting 259 passengers in addition to eight crewmembers when she took on water shortly after leaving Kyrenia in the early afternoon (local time) of August 30.
The vessel was en route to Taşucu in Turkey when the incident occurred.
Local officials said only 241 people who were on the ferry survived the capsizing.
Mr Üstel thanked the Turkish Government and other Turkish agencies for their contributions to the search effort.
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