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Rescue effort after ferry catches fire between Italy and Albania Rescue effort after ferry catches fire between Italy and Albania
(about 1 hour later)
Italian and Greek crews are working to rescue hundreds of people trapped on a burning ferry between Italy and Albania.Italian and Greek crews are working to rescue hundreds of people trapped on a burning ferry between Italy and Albania.
At least one person died and two were injured in the incident, and the Italian navy said 190 of the 478 people on the ferry had been rescued, more than 14 hours after the fire erupted.At least one person died and two were injured in the incident, and the Italian navy said 190 of the 478 people on the ferry had been rescued, more than 14 hours after the fire erupted.
The fire broke out before dawn on Sunday on a car deck of the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic, travelling from the western Greek port of Patras to the Italian port of Ancona on the Adriatic, with 422 passengers and 56 crew members on board.The fire broke out before dawn on Sunday on a car deck of the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic, travelling from the western Greek port of Patras to the Italian port of Ancona on the Adriatic, with 422 passengers and 56 crew members on board.
Italy and Greece sent navy and coast guard vessels and helicopters, while nearby merchant ships lined up to form a barrier to protect the ferry from towering waves and to help the rescue. As darkness fell, the Italian defence minister, Roberta Pinotti, said rescue operations would continue throughout the night.Italy and Greece sent navy and coast guard vessels and helicopters, while nearby merchant ships lined up to form a barrier to protect the ferry from towering waves and to help the rescue. As darkness fell, the Italian defence minister, Roberta Pinotti, said rescue operations would continue throughout the night.
Most of those rescued were transported to other nearby ships, but nine were taken to the Italian town of Lecce. Of those, three children and a pregnant woman were being treated for hypothermia in Lecce hospital. Dr Raffaele Montinaro said the children were in excellent condition and emergency room doctor Antonio Palumbo said the mother’s condition was also good.Most of those rescued were transported to other nearby ships, but nine were taken to the Italian town of Lecce. Of those, three children and a pregnant woman were being treated for hypothermia in Lecce hospital. Dr Raffaele Montinaro said the children were in excellent condition and emergency room doctor Antonio Palumbo said the mother’s condition was also good.
A government official in Athens said one man had died after falling into the sea moments before he and his wife were to be rescued.A government official in Athens said one man had died after falling into the sea moments before he and his wife were to be rescued.
The Greek shipping minister, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, said bad weather, with winds that at one point had reached 55mph (88km per hour), had hampered attempts to reach the Norman Atlantic.The Greek shipping minister, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, said bad weather, with winds that at one point had reached 55mph (88km per hour), had hampered attempts to reach the Norman Atlantic.
He told reporters that the Italian-led operation was “ one of the most complicated rescue operations that we have ever done”.He told reporters that the Italian-led operation was “ one of the most complicated rescue operations that we have ever done”.
The shipping ministry identified the Greek casualty as Giorgos Doulis, who had been on the ferry with his wife, Theodora.The shipping ministry identified the Greek casualty as Giorgos Doulis, who had been on the ferry with his wife, Theodora.
On Sunday night a spokeswoman for the UK Foreign office said: “A number of British nationals were on board. We believe some have now been rescued, but the rescue operation is ongoing.”On Sunday night a spokeswoman for the UK Foreign office said: “A number of British nationals were on board. We believe some have now been rescued, but the rescue operation is ongoing.”
A British woman, Dotty Channing-Williams, said her son Nicholas was aboard the ship with his fiancee, Regina. She had spoken to him on the phone after the fire broke out, but had since lost contact. Among those rescued was British showjumper Nick Channing Williams, 37, who is based in Greece, and his fiancee, Regina Theoffili. His mother, Dotty Channing Williams, told Sky News that when she spoke to her son earlier he had been standing on the ferry’s top deck for seven hours “in the rain and thunder and lightning”.
“People in Greece are saying that their communications have been cut off, so as not to hamper rescue operations which I can fully understand,” she told Sky News. “But nevertheless it is very, very worrying and very scary.”
She said that when she spoke to her son he had been standing on the ferry’s top deck for seven hours “in the rain and thunder and lightning”.
A passenger interviewed by Greek Skai TV after she was rescued from the ferry said that at around 6.30am she had noticed a “strange smell in the cabin”, but heard no alarm until much later.A passenger interviewed by Greek Skai TV after she was rescued from the ferry said that at around 6.30am she had noticed a “strange smell in the cabin”, but heard no alarm until much later.
As darkness fell, another passenger who was interviewed by telephone for Greece’s state-run television network, NERIT, said the helicopters that had been taking people off in pairs had stopped flying. The unnamed passenger, who was audibly in a state of agitation, added: “We’re about to sink … We are unable to breathe due to smoke. The boat is listing.”
Each air transfer was reportedly taking about 15 minutes. Two Italian and two Greek helicopters were involved in the rescue operation. Two fire-fighting tugs were also at the scene. According to an unconfirmed report on Sunday last night, an Italian tug had succeeded in getting a line to the ferry and was towing it slowly towards the Albanian coast. It was unclear whether the vessel was still burning as night came.Each air transfer was reportedly taking about 15 minutes. Two Italian and two Greek helicopters were involved in the rescue operation. Two fire-fighting tugs were also at the scene. According to an unconfirmed report on Sunday last night, an Italian tug had succeeded in getting a line to the ferry and was towing it slowly towards the Albanian coast. It was unclear whether the vessel was still burning as night came.