Status: 02/19/2022 02:34 am
The rescue measures on the burning car ferry “Euroferry Olympia” are in full swing: two men who were trapped below deck might be brought from board. 12 people are still missing.
A special unit of the Greek rescue service managed to save two men from the burning car ferry “Euroferry Olympia”. The two had been in contact with the emergency services since the morning. They were locked below deck.
The state broadcaster ERT showed footage of a helicopter that lowered helpers and then picked up the men. It was also reported that at least five other people may have survived – but this information has not yet been confirmed by the Coast Guard.
Apparently eleven missing
The rescue workers continued their mission: 12 of the 290 officially recorded passengers and crew members are still missing. They are said to be primarily truck drivers who had spent the night in their vehicles on the garage decks.
Eleven still missing following fire broke out on Mediterranean ferry “Euroferry Olympia”
Tagesschau 5:00 p.m., 18.2.2022
The “Euroferry Olympia” was on its way from the port city of Igoumenitsa on the west coast of mainland Greece to Brindisi in Italy. The fire may have started from a truck parked on the ferry, the Italian news agency Ansa reported, citing the crew. Pictures and videos showed high flames and a huge plume of smoke over the ship.
The coast guards of both countries and other ships were quickly on site, and in relatively good weather, 278 people – including a stowaway – were rescued by the morning and brought to the island of Corfu.
However, it took until the followingnoon to get the fire under control enough for rescue workers to get on board. A full list of all people on board the ship should be available when all the rescued are gathered in Corfu, said Deputy Shipping Minister Costas Katsafados.
Deaths following fire on ferry in 2014
There is a lively ferry traffic between the west coast of Greece and the Italian Adriatic. In December 2014, a fire broke out on a ferry running between Patras and Ancona off the Adriatic coast. 13 people died, including nine passengers.
