TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel: Work continues for 15 people missing from the ship that sank off the coast of Kyrenia.

Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ünal Üstel, said in a statement to journalists that they were working with all their resources to reach the 15 people missing on the ship that sank off the coast of Kyrenia. "As the days progress, the conditions of the work carried out under the sea and inside the sunken ship become increasingly difficult, but despite all the difficulties, our teams working from the air, sea, undersea and land continue their work uninterrupted." Üstel said that their only goal was to reach the missing people, that they met with expert institutions and organizations in Türkiye to remove the wreck, and in this context, experts from Türkiye also made examinations in the region.

"WE WILL CLARE WHETHER WE CAN REMOVE THE WRECKAGE"

Explaining that they inspected the work on the TCG Alemdar ship, which was searching off the coast of Kyrenia today, Üstel shared the following information: "The work on removing the shipwreck will become clear tomorrow. We will clarify whether we can remove the wreck. We have also initiated certain initiatives in this regard. Technical personnel of experienced private organizations are preparing preliminary reports by making the necessary examinations in the area where the accident occurred and on the wreck today. In this context, I will go to Istanbul tomorrow and discuss the reports prepared by these private organizations experienced in shipwreck studies and wreck removal operations in the deep seas." I'll take it."

Üstel pointed out that they are making efforts to include additional opportunities and alternative methods in the search work, and added that they will evaluate all reports and findings as a result of the contacts they will hold in Istanbul and Ankara.

TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel thanked Türkiye for its support to the search efforts and all search teams for their efforts.

SHIP SINKING IN KYRENIA

The high-speed passenger ship named "Fleet Jet", which was operating between Kyrenia Port in TRNC and Taşucu Port in Mersin, started to take in water from its front part shortly after departing from Kyrenia at noon on Sunday, August 30, and sank while trying to return to Kyrenia Port.

TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel pointed out that there were a total of 267 passengers and crew on the ship, and announced that 239 people were rescued after the ship sank, the bodies of 13 people were found, and search efforts were continuing for the 15 missing people. It is reported that the wreckage of the sunken ship was found at a depth of 554 meters off the coast of Kyrenia.