Search efforts for the Tuğberk İmamoğlu shipwreck stopped, families reacted

Search efforts for the shipwreck of the Tuğberk İmamoğlu ship, which sank after colliding with the Alsu ship on September 2 off the coast of Silivri in the Sea of ​​Marmara, stopped on November 2. Families pointed out that eight bodies have still not been found and reacted to the termination of the search and the removal of the AFAD crisis desk, where they were waiting in Silivri, today.

'HOW CAN IT END?'

Speaking to Cumhuriyet, the families said, "On the night of November 2, the TPAO Mukavemet ship left the region to return to Filyos without giving an explanation to the families and without presenting a technical report. Moreover, this departure took place in the evening of the day when the press release was made, in which the families demanded that the Optimus Prime ship, which gained experience in Cyprus, as well as the Mukavemet, also participate in the work. In Cyprus, which is stated to be clearer and easier to work with, Optimus Prime worked for about 30 days and returned the bodies of 13 out of 14 people." How can the work on the wreck in Marmara, which they say is more difficult because it is 720 meters deep, be completed after only 10 days? He said his words.

'EIGHT MARINES ARE NOT JUST A NUMBER'

While asking for an explanation as to why Mukavemet left the region, he said, "Our remaining eight sailors are not just a number. Each of them has a name, a life, unfinished dreams and a family waiting for him. There are families among us who cannot show their ten-year-old child where his father is, and who do not have a tombstone to say 'Your father is here'. Among us, there are mothers who know with their minds that their 25-year-old son will not be able to return anymore, but their hearts are still waiting for the door to open. They cannot stop looking at their phones even though they know that they will never hear their husband's voice again." "There are spouses, siblings who cannot bear to touch their brother's belongings, children who do not even have a grave to pray for. The searches should not be terminated, the crisis desk should not be closed, we will not give up on our eight sailors at a depth of 720 meters."

THE BODY WAS RECOVERED AFTER 56 DAYS

There were 10 crew members on the Tuğberk İmamoğlu ship. Captain Yaşar Kayhan's body was found on September 14, 12 days after the incident. Relatives of the other nine people told Cumhuriyet newspaper on October 12 that from the first day, the authorities had made statements to them saying "We cannot remove the bodies." It was recorded that the ship sank into mud at 720 meters. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu's words on September 17, "It seems difficult for us to pull a person out of the sea anymore," drew the reaction of families. On October 24, 52 days after the accident, TPAO's Strength ship went to the region to carry out work. On the 56th day, the resistance reached the body of the ship's second captain, Rahmi Temel. Families also drew attention to this situation and said, "If no work had been done on the grounds that 'Marmara is blurry and the bodies cannot be reached', Rahmi Temel would not have been reached."