‘Rescued’ Turkish passenger remains missing following ferry disaster

Buse Özel ISTANBUL

Two tugboats and the Italian-owned Norman Atlantic ferry are moored at the port of Brindisi, Jan. 2, 2015. AFP Photo

Italian authorities have been unable to find any trace of a Turkish passenger that went missing following the Norman Atlantic ferry disaster on Dec. 28, 2014, even though he called his family from a lifeboat ostensibly following his rescue.

Hakan Akkaya had called his family and said he was on a lifeboat, Doğan News Agency reported diplomatic sources as saying on Jan. 2, but no news from Akkaya has been heard since the correspondence.

The blaze that broke out Dec. 28, 2014, on the Norman Atlantic ferry, which was traveling between Patras in Greece and Ancona in Italy, killed at least 13 people, including one Turkish citizen.

Havise Savaş, 50, was among the 13 people confirmed killed in the ferry disaster, but officials warned the discovery of stowaways onboard meant the actual death toll could be far higher. Officials believe that Savaş, who was Akkaya’s fiancée, jumped into the sea in panic when the fire broke out.

Two Albanian seamen who were helping in the rescue operation were also killed when a cable snapped on their tugboat, according to Agence France-Presse.