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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 4 hours 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 sea, 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 Sea, with 422 passengers and 56 crew members on board.
Italy and Greece sent navy and coastguard 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 coastguard 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 (88 kilometresm per hour) per hour earlier, 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/h) earlier, 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.”
Among those rescued was British showjumper Nick Channing Williams, 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”.Among those rescued was British showjumper Nick Channing Williams, 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”.
Susan Daltas said her daughter Mia, a British national, and two granddaughters had been rescued. “I’ve heard recently from Marcus, our son-in-law, who kept the phone, that they’ve been airlifted to safety - the two little girls and Mia. But he’s still on the ferry, as far as we understand,” Daltas told the BBC on Sunday night. Susan Daltas said her daughter Mia, a British national, and two granddaughters had been rescued. “I’ve heard recently from Marcus, our son-in-law, who kept the phone, that they’ve been airlifted to safety – the two little girls and Mia. But he’s still on the ferry, as far as we understand,” Daltas told the BBC on Sunday night.
She said her youngest granddaughter had been taken to a mainland hospital. “She was suffering from hypothermia because they didn’t even manage to get a coat out of the cabin before they had to go on deck. But apparently she’s now sleeping,” she said.She said her youngest granddaughter had been taken to a mainland hospital. “She was suffering from hypothermia because they didn’t even manage to get a coat out of the cabin before they had to go on deck. But apparently she’s now sleeping,” she said.
Of her son-in-law, Mrs Daltas said: “He was shaken, obviously, but I think he’d been staying strong for the family, and the minute they were safe he went a bit wobbly. It’s just cold, and he said his mobile was soaking wet because they had to keep moving around the boat to get away from the fire. So it’s obviously not pleasant.”Of her son-in-law, Mrs Daltas said: “He was shaken, obviously, but I think he’d been staying strong for the family, and the minute they were safe he went a bit wobbly. It’s just cold, and he said his mobile was soaking wet because they had to keep moving around the boat to get away from the fire. So it’s obviously not pleasant.”
A passenger interviewed by Greek Skai TV after she was rescued from the ferry said that at 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 6.30am she had noticed a “strange smell in the cabin”, but heard no alarm until much later.
Each air transfer was reportedly taking about 15 minutes. Two Italian and two Greek helicopters were involved in the rescue operation. Two firefighting tugs were also at the scene.Each air transfer was reportedly taking about 15 minutes. Two Italian and two Greek helicopters were involved in the rescue operation. Two firefighting tugs were also at the scene.
According to an unconfirmed report on Sunday 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.According to an unconfirmed report on Sunday 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.