Filo Jet Crash: 7 Dead, 23 Still Missing

The Filo Jet disaster has already taken a tragic toll. Seven people died, 237 were rescued, and 23 are still missing after the vessel sank off the coast of Kyrenia.

Since the initial reports were published, the situation has changed significantly. The Filo Jet is now completely underwater, Turkey has dispatched additional vessels and helicopters, and new information has emerged about the events immediately preceding the flight.

Filo Jet crash: 7 victims and 23 missing people

According to his information 237 people were rescued, seven died and 23 people have not yet been reached by rescuers..

The latest balance sheet was provided by the “prime minister” of the unrecognized Turkish Cypriot administration, Ünal Üstel.

There were a total of 267 people on board.

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman also confirmed the 23 missing people. He said that according to data from the crisis center, the number of rescued people remains accurate, and that no one is in critical condition.

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The Filo Jet sank completely

This is one of the most important changes since the first reports of the disaster.

Initially, the overturned Filo Jet remained partially above the sea. Later, the vessel was completely underwater.

According to Üstel, the depth at the sinking site is estimated at approximately 514 meters.

The Prime Minister did not rule out that some of the 23 people whom rescuers have not yet reached may have remained inside the ship.

However, this has not been confirmed at this stage.

Due to the great depth of the operation, specialist teams from Turkey are also to be deployed for further activities.

Türkiye has increased its forces participating in the operation

The rescue operation has been significantly expanded.

The Turkish Ministry of Interior announced that it had been dispatched to the disaster area five coast guard units and two helicopters.

Turkish naval forces have sent additional six units.

Units of the Turkish Cypriot Coast Guard and the passenger ship Akgünler 3 are also participating in the operations.

The search is being conducted both at sea and from the air.

The cruise was initially suspended due to weather conditions.

New information also concerns what happened before the Filo Jet set sail.

According to Üstel, the unit she was not initially allowed to leave port due to bad weather conditions.

The ship departed about an hour later.

Üstel reported that the Filo Jet then found itself in difficult conditions and began taking on water.

This is an important finding, as there had previously been conflicting reports regarding the weather at the time of the cruise's commencement.

However, this does not mean that the weather has already been officially recognized as the cause of the disaster.

The cause still remains unknown.

It is still unknown why the vessel began taking on water and why the situation led to it capsizing and sinking so quickly.

The operator Filo Denizcilik itself issued a statement after the disaster and launched a crisis center and special information lines for passengers' families.

In the announcement However, no cause of the accident was given, nor was any information provided regarding the technical condition of the vessel or the pre-voyage inspection..

Therefore, at this stage there is no basis for determining whether sea conditions, a technical problem, damage to the ship or several factors at once played a key role.

This should be determined by the investigation.

The Republic of Cyprus offered assistance

In the meantime, the Republic of Cyprus has confirmed its readiness to join the operation.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Larnaca, through the UN peacekeeping forces, informed that the Republic was ready to provide air and sea resources for search and rescue operations.

President Nikos Christodoulides also instructed the Turkish Cypriot side to convey its readiness to provide all possible assistance.

Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis later stressed that in a life-threatening situation, the priority remains protecting life.

The search for 23 people continues

The most important task now is to find people whom rescuers have not yet reached.

The confirmed balance sheet is currently:

237 rescued, seven fatalities and 23 missing persons.

Due to the complete sinking of the Filo Jet, the further phase of the operation may be much more difficult than the first hours of rescuing passengers from the sea surface.

The material will be updated as further confirmed information appears.

Sources: Kıbrıs Postası, Haber Kıbrıs, Bugün Kıbrıs, Türk Ajansı Kıbrıs, Turkish Ministry of Interior, KYPE/CNA, Cyprus Mail