Abbas Demir, who lost his wife in the ferry disaster: I watched the ship sink from the hill
Abbas Demir, the husband of Elmas Demir, who lost her life in the ferry disaster off the coast of the TRNC, recounted the moments he learned about the accident.
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Painful stories continue to emerge regarding the capsizing of a Turkish catamaran-type passenger ship that set sail from Kyrenia Port to the Taşucu Port in Mersin on August 30. Abbas Demir, the husband of 58-year-old Elmas Demir, a mother of 5 from Eskişehir who was among those who lost their lives in the accident, spoke about the moment of the incident.
In the accident, 13 people lost their lives, 241 passengers were rescued, and search operations were initiated for 16 people. The body of Elmas Demir, one of the missing passengers, was recovered during the operations, which were also joined by Turkish Armed Forces teams.
Speaking at the condolence tent set up on Kenan Street in the Fevziçakmak neighborhood of Eskişehir's Tepebaşı district, Abbas Demir said that his wife had been working in Cyprus and had boarded the ship to travel to Turkey. Demir stated that he spoke with his wife on the phone around 11:30 AM and later learned about the accident when his nephew called him.
Demir described the moment he experienced with these words: "My nephew called me at 12:30 PM and asked, 'Uncle, which ferry did my aunt take?' I said, 'She went with Filo.' He told me, 'Uncle, the Filo has sunk.' When he said that, I said, 'Come and get me.' My nephew came and picked me up; it was 1:00 PM. I was right above Kyrenia; I saw the ship sinking, I watched it."
Claiming that the ship turned on its side around 12:10 PM, Demir said, "It was already like that at 2:00 PM. The time it sank was around 3:00 PM. I saw it from above Kyrenia; I was coming from a high place in Nicosia," he expressed.
DEMİR'S REACTION TO THE CAPTAIN AND THE COMPANY
Stating that he would return to Cyprus after burying his wife, Abbas Demir noted that he had filed a complaint against the captain and the company. Demir said, "I am filing a complaint against Filo and the captains. Especially the captain. What is the point of pouring fuel, locking the doors, jumping off, and running away? This person has officially committed a massacre."
Arguing that the captain is obligated to evacuate the passengers, Demir said, "The captain should first get the passengers out and give them their life vests. The last person to leave should be the captain. The captain is guilty; I am filing a complaint against the captain and the Filo company. I will pursue my wife's case to the end," he said.
It was reported that Elmas Demir's funeral will be held from the İlahiyat Mosque in Eskişehir on September 5, following the noon prayer.