Bodies of 10 Turkish Cypriots returned to the island (Update)

A total of 22 bodies of Turkish Cypriots were found in the rubble of a hotel in Adiyaman, authorities in the north said on Friday as the bodies of ten victims were returned for burial.

The remains, which arrived at 3.30am on Friday were those of seven students, two teachers and a parent.

The names of the first ten brought home were given as: Ibrahim Yakula (teacher), Pamir Konuklu (teacher), Duygu Kalayci and her daughter Lavin (student), and Fahri Arkar, Donuk Akin and his brother Alp, Ozgur Icme, Elvin Cavdir, and Kayan Selim Is, who were students.

Relatives and athletic groups were waiting for the coffins as they arrived at the Tymbou (Ercan) airport. ‘Government’ officials were also there.

Later in the day, hundreds of people gathered in the old town of Famagusta in the north for the funeral of three of the schoolboys.

A wave of emotion spread across the crowds who were seen hugging each other, while the families of the victims clutched pictures of the boys.

People searching through the rubble of the destroyed hotel 

According to ‘education minister’ Nazim Cavusoglu, the works at the Isias hotel, where the Turkish Cypriots were staying while taking part in a volleyball competition, will be completed in two days.

‘Mayor’ of Famagusta Suleyman Ulucay, who is in the area as he has three relatives under the rubble, said that the bodies of the school group will be buried in a specially designated area.

The group consisted of 24 students, four teachers, and eleven parents. Several people managed to save themselves at the onset of the earthquake on Monday including a teacher and three other adults.

Meanwhile, the ‘prime minister’s office’ announced that the total number of dead Turkish Cypriots in the earthquakes was 32.

They said six died in Hatay, three in Kahramaras, one in Osmaniye, and 22 in Adiyaman.

Three more flights were expected later on Friday with more remains.