Bodies of two women from sunken ferry identified off Kyrenia, Cyprus
Off the coast of Kyrenia in Cyprus, the bodies of two women recovered from the wreckage of a sunken ferry have been identified. The victims were named as Şerife Özdemir and Nazmiye Özbolat. The number of confirmed victims of the disaster stands at 12, Cyprus Mail reports, citing the head of the Turkish Cypriot government, Ünal Üstel.
The search for 16 missing people continues
According to Üstel, the identification procedure for the bodies of the two women was completed on the morning of September 4, and their families were informed. He also stated that no other bodies had been found after that. Sixteen people are currently being sought.
According to Üstel, the search-and-rescue operation continues around the clock with Turkey’s support and the participation of relevant services. Turkish Cypriots, he said, continue searching for the missing people using all available resources.
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Vessels and an underwater vehicle deployed in the operation
Commander of the Southern Area of the Turkish Navy Mehmet Baybars Küçükatay said that nine vessels, 11 aircraft and a team of 800 people were involved in the operation on September 4. The search is being conducted on the seabed, underwater, on the sea surface and along the coast.
The Turkish deep-sea research vessel TCG Alemdar is using an ROV remotely operated underwater vehicle to examine the seabed. According to Küçükatay, the vehicle can grasp underwater objects weighing up to 135 kilograms and lift them from depths of up to 3,000 metres. The ferry sank at a depth of 554 metres.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said that of the 133 people who were taken alive to hospitals after the accident on Sunday, two remain in medical facilities. According to him, they are not in critical condition.
