The Greek coastguard mentioned that 280 folks have been rescued however twelve folks have been nonetheless lacking from the 183-meter (600-foot) ferry which stuck hearth close to the Corfu island en path from Igoumenitsa, a port in Western Greece, to the Italian port of Brindisi, a nine-hour adventure.
The lacking passengers have been from Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Lithuania, the Greek coastguard mentioned.
“The fireplace remains to be burning and firefighting vessels were looking to put it out,” Transport Minister Giannis Plakiotakis instructed Skai tv on Saturday.
Aerial pictures launched by way of the Greek coastguard on Friday confirmed rows of burnt vans at the blackened deck after flames swept in the course of the send, owned by way of Grimaldi Strains.
Past due on Friday, Greek crews rescued two folks, a Bulgarian and an Afghan citizen, who was once now not at the professional checklist of lacking folks. They have been taken to the clinic of Corfu, the corporate mentioned in a remark.
Bulgaria’s international ministry mentioned 127 of its electorate have been on board.
Maximum of the ones rescued at the moment are being accommodated in motels on Corfu.
“I’ve been coming and going for such a lot of years, I’ve by no means skilled this type of scenario ahead of,” 50-year-old Greek truck driving force, Giorgos Parlatzas, who was once evacuated from the send, mentioned from a Corfu lodge.
The ferry was once wearing 153 automobiles, Grimaldi Strains mentioned.
The reason for the blaze is being investigated and government could have extra proof as soon as the send is tugged to a protected position, Plakiotakis mentioned.
