A submersible vessel joined the search Tuesday for 20 people missing for two days following a ferry disaster off the coast of Cyprus. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Eight people died when the passenger ferry Filo Jet, which was carrying 267 passengers and crew, capsized and sank after leaving Kyrenia, a port in northern Cyprus, for Tasucu, Turkey, on Sunday afternoon.
The Turkish navy ship TCG Isin arrived at the site and began work to reach the ferry, North Cypriot Prime Minister Unal Ustel said. The ferry is lying in waters that are more than 500 meters (more than 1,600 feet) deep.
“Our state is on the ground with all its resources. With the strong support of the Republic of Turkey, we will continue our search and rescue operations and technical work uninterrupted for as long as needed,” he said in comments reported by the northern Cypriot newspaper Kibris.
The Isin, a specialized search-and-rescue vessel, is equipped with a remotely operated submersible able to provide images of the sea bed and recover items with robotic arms. It can descend up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). Fifteen specialist divers are aboard the Isin.
“Once the wreck is identified, salvage operations will begin at a significant depth of 500 meters,” Cmdr. Ulas Cesur said aboard the Isin. “Detailed search and investigation activities will be carried out around and on the wreck.”