One Dead, Hundreds Trapped in Greek Ferry Fire

[Omaha Steve]

Source: VOA News

Italian officials say the fire aboard a Greek ferry off the island of Corfu is under control as efforts to rescue hundreds of trapped passengers continue through the night.

The Italian Coast Guard says at least one person has died.

Rescuers have docked a tugboat to the ferry to help stabilize it after it started listing to one side, putting it in danger of sinking.

At least 192 of the 478 passengers and crew have been rescued so far.

FULL story at link.



In this image provided by the Italian Navy, a helicopter hovers above the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic, shown billowing smoke, after it caught fire in the Adriatic Sea, Dec. 28, 2014.

Read more: http://www.voanews.com/content/hundred-trapped-on-burning-ferry-off-greek-islands/2576338.html

[quadrature]

1. is the Captain still on the ship?

recent maritime tradition is that
the crew is the first to be rescued.

[Bosonic]

2. Death toll from Greek ferry fire now at 5

Death toll from Greek ferry fire now at 5

BARI, Italy (AP) -- The Greek coast guard says the death toll from a fire on board a Greek ferry in the Adriatic between Albania and Italy has increased to five.

Coast Guard spokesman Nikos Lagadianos said four more people were found dead on Monday. One Greek man died on Sunday after becoming trapped in a lifeboat chute. Of the 478 passengers and crew on board the ferry, 391 have been rescued so far.

The fire broke out on a car deck on board the Norman Atlantic before dawn Sunday as it sailed from Greece toward Italy.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_GREECE_FERRY_FIRE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-12-29-06-17-17

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Albanian seamen die in Norman Atlantic ferry recovery

Two Albanian seamen have been killed on a tugboat while towing the fire-stricken Norman Atlantic ferry.

Both men died after being hit by a connecting cable between the vessels on Tuesday, Albanian officials say.

At least 11 others were killed and more than 400 were rescued, after fire broke out on the ferry in stormy seas.
...
The operator said 478 people had been on the ferry when it left the Greek port of Patras for Ancona in Italy, but Italy's final tally following the rescue comes to only 437, including those who died.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30630703

[Marrah_G]

4. Scary- I hope they get the rest of the passengers off.