Greek ferry fire: eight people confirmed dead as rescue operation is completed

 
Rescue operation: smoke billows from the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic that caught fire in the Adriatic Sea (Picture: AP)
Standard Reporter29 December 2014

Eight people have died after hundreds of people became trapped on board a Greek ferry when a fire broke out on deck, officials have said.

The final passengers left stranded on the Norman Atlantic ferry were finally rescued by 1pm (GMT) today in rough seas between Italy and Albania.

The vessel caught fire in the Adriatic Sea yesterday. So far five people have been confirmed dead and two people seriously injured.

Six Britons were among those aboard the ferry, which an inspection just 10 days ago found had serious deficiencies. It is not believed any Britons are among the dead.

Italian and Greek navy and coastguard ships and helicopters plucked passengers off the stricken vessel and took them to safety on board the 10 or so mercantile ships nearby.

A cargo ship, the Spirit of Piraeus, carried 49 people to the Italian port of Bari earlier today, the first big group to reach land.

Passengers and crew watched from the decks loaded with cargo containers as TV crews and relatives gathered on the docks below. Doctors boarded the ship to check the passengers.

The ship came ashore after first trying to dock overnight down the coast in Brindisi. It was forced to change course due to rough seas.

The fire broke out before dawn yesterday on a car deck of the Italian-flagged ferry, which was carrying 422 passengers and 56 crew members.

Passengers huddled on the vessel's upper decks overnight, pelted by rain and hail and struggling to breathe through the thick smoke.

Helicopters rescued passengers throughout the night, completing 34 sorties in winds of more than 40 knots an hour, or 50mph.

Safe landing: seven passengers from the Norman Atlantic ferry arrive by helicopter at Corfu airport (Picture: EPA)

Italian coast guard Admiral Giovanni Pettorino told Sky TG24 said: "Notwithstanding the weather and the darkness, which is another factor, we persisted throughout the entire night."

He added those remaining on board were given thermal blankets and found places to wait protected from the elements "even if the conditions remain very difficult".

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