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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Greek ferry fire: Evacuation hampered by winds | Greek ferry fire: Evacuation hampered by winds |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ships and helicopters are taking part in a major rescue operation after a Greek ferry carrying 478 people caught fire around 40 nautical miles north-west of Corfu. | Ships and helicopters are taking part in a major rescue operation after a Greek ferry carrying 478 people caught fire around 40 nautical miles north-west of Corfu. |
| The Norman Atlantic was travelling from Patras in Greece to Ancona in Italy. | The Norman Atlantic was travelling from Patras in Greece to Ancona in Italy. |
| Choppy seas and strong winds are hampering the rescue. Early reports that it was tilting have been denied. | Choppy seas and strong winds are hampering the rescue. Early reports that it was tilting have been denied. |
| There are no reports of casualties. Greek and Italian officials say 131 people have been rescued. | |
| Italian media say the fire broke out on the ferry's car deck early on Sunday morning. | Italian media say the fire broke out on the ferry's car deck early on Sunday morning. |
| Around 35 passengers of those rescued were transferred to a nearby Greek ferry by lifeboat, Merchant Marine Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said. | |
| "This is a complicated rescue mission... The visibility is poor and the weather conditions are difficult, but we are confident because there are a good number of ships in the area," he said. | "This is a complicated rescue mission... The visibility is poor and the weather conditions are difficult, but we are confident because there are a good number of ships in the area," he said. |
| Italian and Albanian teams are also taking part in the rescue operation. | Italian and Albanian teams are also taking part in the rescue operation. |
| One of the passengers told Greek TV station Mega: "Our shoes started being submerged as we were in the reception area. We are burning and sinking with no-one able to rescue us. Please help us, do not leave us alone." | One of the passengers told Greek TV station Mega: "Our shoes started being submerged as we were in the reception area. We are burning and sinking with no-one able to rescue us. Please help us, do not leave us alone." |
| Ferries are an important mode of transport between Greece's hundreds of islands as well as neighbouring countries. | Ferries are an important mode of transport between Greece's hundreds of islands as well as neighbouring countries. |
| Are you, or is someone you know, affected by this story? Do you know any of the passengers on the Greek ferry? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with any information. Please leave a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | |
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