Salim Hilaloğlu (37), his wife Nurcan (36) and their children Miran Asaf (6) and Anni Asel (3), who live in Siverek district of Şanlıurfa, were caught in the Filo Jet ship disaster that occurred off the coast of Kyrenia on August 30, 2026, while returning from TRNC, where they went for holiday. While 28 people lost their lives as a result of the ship sinking, mother Nurcan from the Hilaloğlu family lost her life and 3-year-old Anni Asel went missing. Father Salim Hilaloğlu managed to save his son Miran Asaf, who was trapped inside the ship. While the treatment of Miran Asaf, who was seriously injured in his leg and underwent surgery, continues, little Asel has not been heard from for 66 days. Waiting for his daughter's body to arrive, the father prepared a grave for his daughter next to his wife's grave. Explaining the pain he felt after the disaster, Hilaloğlu called on the authorities to find his daughter. Hilaloğlu, who came to Mersin with the relatives of those who lost their lives in the disaster, made statements.
"MY DREAMS SINNKED INSIDE THE SHIP"
Stating that they lived a happy life with their family before the disaster, Salim Hilaloğlu said that his wife's family lived in TRNC and they often went to the island for holidays. Stating that their last trip changed their lives, Hilaloğlu said, "I lost my wife and daughter in the Cyprus ship disaster and my son was rescued with serious injuries. I personally rescued him from the ship. First of all, I want to tell you this. We were a very nice family. Me, my wife, my children, we had a very peaceful and very happy life. My wife and I often came to visit Cyprus, we went for a holiday. My wife's family is in Cyprus. We came again for a holiday and unfortunately "Our return turned into hell. The ship sank. My dreams sank inside the ship. My wife was gone, my son was injured. I saved my son."
"I ALWAYS KEEP IT UP SO THAT MY CHILDREN CAN BREATH"
Explaining that he was in the corridor with his family when the ship sank, Hilaloğlu said that they were stranded when the ship tilted and the water rose rapidly. Stating that he fought until the last moment to save his children, Hilaloğlu said, "Similarly, we were in the corridor when the ship sank and fell on its side. We came out of the hall and fell into the corridor when the ship fell on its side. It was like a hell hole, we could not get out in any way and the water started to come. As the water came, I always tried to keep the children up so that they could breathe. My children were in my arms. I struggled until the last moment. At the end of this struggle, my strength was enough for my son. I pulled my son out. While taking him out, he stood up. "The ship was falling apart. He was badly injured there. When I went back for my wife and daughter, I couldn't find them. Because the ship was full of water and there were so many suitcases."
"MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN MISSING FOR 66 DAYS, I WANT THE SEARCH EFFORTS TO CONTINUE"
Stating that his daughter could not be reached even though 66 days had passed since the disaster, Hilaloğlu said that the search and rescue ship from Türkiye retrieved the bodies of 13 people from the sea, but his daughter could not be found. Stating that the search efforts should have continued longer, Hilaloğlu said, "Today is the 66th day. My daughter has been missing for exactly 66 days. A rescue ship called Deep Water came from Türkiye and they took 13 bodies from the bottom of the sea and told me that my daughter was not there, not at the bottom of the sea. So this search could have lasted longer. So maybe she was overlooked, maybe she was not seen. She is a little girl after all."
"I BEGGED, I BEGGED, I WANT THEM TO FIND MY DAUGHTER"
Stating that he applied to the authorities many times to find his daughter, Hilaloğlu reacted to the halt of the search efforts. Claiming that the TRNC Minister of Transport made a statement that it was not possible for his daughter to be found, Hilaloğlu said, "I begged and begged. Believe me, I would have kissed the feet of all the officials there. I mean, I am such a sad and helpless father. They could not find my daughter, and just yesterday the Cyprus Minister of Transport made a statement. He says that she cannot be found. What does this mean? How can she not be found? Is it humanity to destroy a father's hopes? Let the search continue, please let it continue? I mean, give my daughter to me." "They should give it to me because I can't do without her. I miss my daughter so much," he said.
"EVERY DAY I LOOK AT THAT OPEN GRAVE AND I AM ASHAMED OF MYSELF"
Explaining that he buried his deceased wife but still could not reach his daughter's body, Hilaloğlu also stated that the grave prepared for his daughter next to his wife's grave was empty. Stating that he wanted to bury his daughter next to her mother, the grieving father said, "I buried her mother. Now her open grave stands next to her mother. I look at that open grave every day and feel ashamed of myself. I go to my wife's grave. Believe me, I can't even cry. Because I wonder if my wife complains to me about why you didn't bring my daughter to me? I'm ashamed to see if she's angry with me. For the sake of God, save me from this pain."
Hilaloğlu, who wanted the search efforts to be restarted to find his daughter, called for the area where the shipwreck was located to be scanned again. Hilaloğlu said, "So do whatever you can do for my daughter. If necessary, let them go again and scan those places again. The places where that ship, the sunken ship is. Won't they look for my daughter in plain sight? I mean, will they leave her like this? What conscience would accept this? I'm telling you, what conscience would accept this? Right now, the whole of Turkey wants 3-year-old Asel to be found. Everyone is trying to make their voice heard. She is like her own daughter, like her own child."
Claiming that the ongoing judicial process in the TRNC regarding the disaster is progressing slowly, Hilaloğlu stated that they want those responsible to be tried in Türkiye as well.
