Funeral held in Turkey for 5-year-old boy after ferry disaster — Cyprus Mail

A funeral was held in the Turkish city of Reyhanlı, Hatay province, for five-year-old Asaf Biçer, who died after a ferry sank off the coast of Kyrenia in August. His parents, Ayten and Hayri Biçer, other relatives, and the head of the Reyhanlı district, Muharrem Coşkun, attended the ceremony.

As Cyprus Mail reports, the deceased boy's 12-year-old sister, Miray Biçer, is still considered missing 32 days after the vessel sank.

Accident near Kyrenia

The ferry capsized shortly after departing the new port of Kyrenia for the Turkish port of Taşucu on August 30, shortly after noon. There were 259 passengers and eight crew members on board.

The deaths of 18 people have been confirmed, while another 10 remain missing. The children's mother said that during the accident, a suitcase fell on her, causing her to let go of her daughter. According to her, she held the girl by the leg, but her shoes were slippery from engine oil from the overturned vessel.

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Legal proceedings

Nine people were detained after the accident: Captain Mustafa Öz, seven crew members, and one of the executives of the operating company Filo Denizcilik. All of them remain in custody, and legal proceedings are ongoing.

During the latest court hearing, it was reported that the Turkish Cypriot authorities had not been informed about a crack on the ferry's port side that appeared on June 17. According to information presented in court, both the captain and the operating company were required to report it.

It was also previously stated in court that Öz allegedly purchased a Honduran captain's license for $3,500. A police representative said that during questioning, the captain reported obtaining the license in Turkey, which became invalid after a ten-year break from working as a captain.