The sinking of a passenger ferry off the coast of Kyrenia, in Cyprus, has so far left 8 dead and dozens missing, while testimony from survivors is raising serious questions about how the emergency was handled on board.
Testimony raising concerns about the crew’s response
There were about 267 people on board. While hundreds have been rescued, the toll remains heavy and the search-and-rescue operation is continuing.
One of the survivors, Ibrahim Kanbolat, said the situation worsened rapidly as soon as water began entering the vessel. According to his account, when passengers informed the crew about the problem, they were told this was “normal” and that they were used to such a situation.
“Everyone saved themselves by their own means”
Kanbolat said the water then entered uncontrollably and part of the side of the vessel was damaged, causing the ferry to list immediately.
According to him, a crew member asked passengers to move toward the stern, but life jackets were not distributed. In the survivor’s version, passengers were left to face the chaos and panic on their own.
Children on board and communication difficulties
The situation, according to the testimony, was even more alarming because there were children on the ferry and people who could not swim.
Kanbolat also claimed that the crew members were of Pakistani origin and that there were communication difficulties with passengers, an element that may have further worsened the handling of the emergency.
Families await answers as investigations remain open
The survivor said he was ultimately rescued by a private vessel, adding that it is still not clear what exactly happened in those moments.
At the port of Kyrenia, relatives of the victims and of those still listed as missing have gathered. Amid the waiting and anxiety, authorities are continuing searches and investigations to clarify the causes of the sinking and to verify whether there were shortcomings in safety measures.
So far, survivors’ testimony has cast a heavy shadow of doubt over safety standards and the crew’s response in a tragedy that has shaken Cyprus.
With dozens of people still unaccounted for, the answers being sought concern not only the cause of the sinking, but also whether this loss of life could have been prevented.