Submersible joins hunt for 20 missing after Cyprus ferry sinking

A Turkish Navy vessel equipped with a remotely operated underwater vehicle has joined the search for 20 people still missing after a passenger ferry capsized and sank off the coast of Cyprus on Sunday.

The vessel, TCG Işın, arrived at the site on Tuesday and began efforts to locate the wreck of the Filo Jet, which lies at a depth of roughly 514 metres. The ferry was carrying 267 passengers and crew when it went down shortly after departing Kyrenia in northern Cyprus for Taşucu, Turkey. Eight people have been confirmed dead.

The TCG Işın carries a remotely operated underwater vehicle capable of descending to depths of up to 1,000 metres. The robot can capture images of the seabed and use robotic arms to recover objects. Fifteen specialist divers are also aboard the ship.

Naval Major Ulaş Cesur, commander of the TCG Işın, said the mission's objective is to conduct a detailed search in the area where the ship sank to determine the wreck's exact location on the seabed. Once identified, a detailed search and investigation will begin at the significant depth of approximately 500 metres, using the remotely operated vehicle.

An overnight air and sea search operation involved a plane, seven helicopters, five drones, and 17 vessels, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency.