Three Azerbaijani citizens have been detained as part of an investigation into the deadly sinking of a passenger vessel off the coast of Girne (Kyrenia) in Northern Cyprus, where eight people lost their lives.

Those detained include Valeh Gumbatov, a resident of Palchigoba village in Azerbaijan’s Khachmaz district; Rashad Ibrahimov, originally from the Tartar district and currently living in Baku; and Gadir Guliyev, a native of the Shabran district, according to Report.

The disaster occurred on Sunday, August 30, when the high-speed passenger vessel Filo Jet was traveling from the port of Girne to Mersin, Türkiye.

Shortly after leaving port, the vessel began taking on water in its bow. The crew attempted to return to port, but the Filo Jet capsized and sank during the journey.

Eight people were killed in the accident, while 20 remain missing. Rescue teams managed to evacuate 241 passengers.

Valeh Gumbatov’s mother, Yegana Gumbatova, said that she last spoke with her son several hours after the accident.

The 28-year-old had recently started working aboard the passenger vessel after previously spending five months as a sailor on a cargo ship operated by the same company. He had been working on the passenger vessel for about a month and was expected to return home this month.

Valeh managed to briefly tell his fiancée that the ship was sinking during the disaster.

“She informed us about it. Several hours after the accident, I called him. He said they were rescuing people and that he would call back once he reached the shore. We spoke very briefly. People were being evacuated by boats at the time,” Gumbatova said.

Valeh later contacted his fiancée once more and reportedly told her that they were going to be detained. Since then, his relatives have been unable to reach him.

The investigation into the shipwreck and the circumstances surrounding the detentions is continuing.