YENİ Parti's Girne ferry disaster: 20 missing, price gouging and Silivri accident

YENİ Party Deputy Group Chair Ali Mahir Başarır held a press conference at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) regarding the ferry disaster off Girne in which 20 people went missing. Başarır stated that the vessel sank at a depth of 550 meters and that there are serious allegations concerning its technical condition, previous accident, and restoration, calling for an investigation by two countries.

Başarır, who alleged that the captain ignored calls from surviving passengers to turn back, announced that the party will monitor the process. He condemned the opportunism after the ferry disaster, when Kıbrıs flight tickets rose to 30-35 thousand lira. He noted that prices dropped after social media posts, stating that this behavior does not befit the companies.

Başarır pointed out that most of those who chose the ferry were workers traveling because it was cheap (1,800 lira). He also brought up the ship collision that occurred the same night off Silivri. He expressed hope that the missing would be found regarding the sinking of the Tuğberk İmamoğlu vessel and the loss of contact with 10 crew members. He noted that the cause of the accident will be clarified once the ferry's black box and footage are obtained.