Seven dead and 23 missing is the tragic toll so far from the shipwreck off the coast of Kyrenia, as announced by Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.
The passenger Filo Jet capsized and sank shortly before noon off the coast of Kyrenia, 4 nautical miles from shore, putting the authorities of the so-called “state” on high alert.
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According to official figures from the crisis management team, 237 people were rescued, while 7 people lost their lives. Search and rescue efforts are continuing intensively for the 23 people who remain missing.
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As the Turkish Cypriot leader noted in his statements, the sea depth exceeds 500 meters, complicating the operations, while a request for search and rescue support has been made to Turkey. At the same time, an investigation into the causes of the accident has begun, and more detailed information is expected to be released in the coming days.
It should be noted that the Republic of Cyprus expressed its readiness to assist in the search and rescue operation from the very beginning. Moreover, the Government Spokesperson wrote in a post: “It is with deep sorrow and anguish that we are following the developments following the sinking of a vessel off the coast of Kyrenia. Our thoughts are with those who lost their lives, with the injured, with all those experiencing this tragedy, and with their families during these extremely difficult times. From the very beginning, the Republic of Cyprus has declared its full readiness to assist immediately in the search and rescue efforts, providing every necessary resource. At a time like this, the protection of human life takes precedence over everything else.”
READ ALSO: There are fatalities in the shipwreck off the coast of Kyrenia, confirmed by the so-called Prime Minister—Dramatic moments at sea | AlphaNews
