Greece

UPDATED: Passenger found alive after blaze on Greece-Italy ferry – Greek official

cde.news desk 20 February 2022, 07:00 · 1 min read

epa09771570 Firefighting forces continue their battle against pockets of fire and extremely high temperatures on the burning ferry 'Euroferry Olympia' after a fire that broke out onboard while sailing off Ereikousa island, Ionian Sea, Greece, 19 February 2022. The Greek Fire Brigade's special disaster unit (EMAK) said they will not be able to search for the 12 people still missing, among them 3 Greek nationals, unless smoke and high temperatures subside, as these can reach up to 500C in some parts of the ferry. Firefighters were trying to put out the fire operating from onboard the tug boats and the fire brigade's firefighting vessel. A total of 280 passengers and crew have been evacuated, including two foreign nationals who were not on the passenger list, while another 12 cannot be accounted for. The fire broke out on 18 February as the ferry was sailing off Erikoussa, near Corfu, while carrying out the journey from Igoumenitsa to the port of Brindisi in Italy. EPA-EFE/STR

CORFU, Greece, Feb 20 (Reuters) – A passenger who was missing after a blaze swept through a ferry sailing from Greece to Italy has been found alive, a Greek shipping ministry official said on Sunday, leaving another 11 people unaccounted for.

A total of 241 passengers and 51 crew were onboard when the blaze broke out on the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympic early on Friday en route from the Greek port of Igoumenitsa to the Italian port of Brindisi.

Vessels had moved most of the 280 people who were rescued to the nearby island of Corfu.

Photo – Firefighting forces in their battle against pockets of fire and extremely high temperatures on the burning ferry ‘Euroferry Olympia’ after a fire that broke out onboard while sailing off Ereikousa island, Ionian Sea, Greece. EPA-EFE/STR