The death toll from a ferry accident off Girne in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has risen to 13, while 15 people remain missing, Prime Minister Unal Ustel said on Saturday.
“With the recovery of the latest body, the number of our people who lost their lives in the accident has risen to 13, while the number of our missing people is now 15,” Ustel said.
Search efforts for those still missing are continuing following the accident involving the Filo Jet passenger vessel, which capsized off Girne while traveling from Girne Port to Tasucu in Mersin, Türkiye.
The operation is being carried out with nine vessels and 11 aircraft deployed in the area, with Turkish Navy search and rescue vessels TCG Isin and TCG Alemdar leading the effort.
Teams are working around the clock, including overnight, to locate those still missing and recover the vessel's black box.
The Filo Jet, a high-speed passenger vessel departed at around noon on Sunday, on August 30, carrying 267 people from Girne Port in the TRNC and Tasucu Port in Mersin, Türkiye.
Shortly after leaving port, the vessel began taking on water through its bow and sank as it attempted to return to Girne Port.
The wreck was subsequently located at a depth of 554 metres (1,818 feet) off the coast of Girne.
