Turkish Vessel To Search Sunken Cyprus Ferry For Missing People

ISTANBUL, Sept 1 (dpa) -- A Turkish rescue vessel is due to arrive in northern Cyprus on Tuesday to begin an operation to reach the wreck of a ferry that sank off the Mediterranean island, killing at least eight people.

The vessel will search for people still missing and the ship's data recorder, said Tufan Erhürman, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey, according to local media. Twenty people were still missing on Monday evening, including at least two children.

A ship's data recorder continuously stores information including the vessel's position, course, speed, radar data, engine status and alarms. Analysing the data could help investigators reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident.

The Turkish rescue and salvage vessel TCG IŞIN (A-583) is equipped with technology for operations in deep waters, the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kıbrıs Postası (Cyprus Post) reported. It includes a remotely operated underwater vehicle and an atmospheric diving suit, according to the report.

The express ferry Filo Jet capsized on Sunday shortly after leaving the northern Cypriot port of Kyrenia, or Girne in Turkish, on its way to Mersin in southern Turkey. Water entered the catamaran for reasons that remain unclear, causing it to fill and list before sinking a few kilometres from the coast.

Eight people were killed and 239 were rescued, according to official figures.

Some survivors have made serious allegations against the crew. Authorities on Monday ordered the captain and eight other suspects to be held in custody for three days while the investigation continues. They are accused of causing death through negligence and carelessness.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following a coup by Greek Cypriot nationalists and a subsequent Turkish military intervention. In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was proclaimed; it is recognized internationally only by Turkey.

--NNN-dpa