On August 30, a capsizing incident off the coast of Kyrenia, Cyprus put many passengers’ lives at risk. One of the survivors, Sadık Sarıbuğa, detailed the events leading up to the accident and his escape from the ship. He emphasized that despite wanting to take his son Berkay to his aunt’s place, they were not allowed on board due to the lack of a photo on his ID.
Sarıbuğa noted that the accident occurred just 15-20 minutes after boarding the ship with his son and eldest son. The ship began to tilt and take on water; noticing this, the passengers warned the crew to turn back. However, when one crew member stated this situation was normal, the passengers’ concerns were largely disregarded.
As the incident progressed, the ship tilted severely and chairs were thrown from their places. Reflecting on their observations, Sarıbuğa mentioned, “We broke the glass on the upper deck to escape.”
Sarıbuğa explained that as a result of the ship’s stern breaking, some passengers fell into the water, while he managed to stay on the upper part of the ship. Witnessing this unfortunate event affecting hundreds, Sarıbuğa stated that while waiting for rescue, he felt that a mother had an impact on her son, adding, “The security teams and fishermen on the beach rescued us.”
On the other hand, Sarıbuğa’s son Berkay was not positively affected by his father’s experience. He expressed that he was turned away from the ship due to the lack of a photo on his ID, and thus escaped this accident. “I’m glad I didn’t go,” he said.
This incident emphasizes the need for increased passenger safety and sends a message that necessary precautions must be taken. Relevant authorities are expected to take action for the safety of ship operations.
Source: www.diyaloggazetesi.com
