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Frightening airborne rescue for stricken ferry passengers Frightening airborne rescue for stricken ferry passengers; five dead
(about 1 hour later)
Rescue teams working through the night battling gale-force winds, monster waves and frigid temperatures began bringing the victims from a ferry fire ashore to safety Monday. At least one person is confirmed to have died in the risky rescue operation and several injured. Rescue teams working through the night battling gale-force winds, monster waves and frigid temperatures began air-lifting the victims from a ferry fire ashore to safety Monday. At least five people were killed and several injured in the sudden fire, the Greek coast guard said.
A cargo ship with 49 survivors of the fire, which broke out Sunday morning aboard the passenger-car ferry, brought the first group of exhausted, freezing victims to the Italian port of Bari just as dawn was breaking Monday - 24 hours after the fire erupted suddenly while passengers were sleeping. A cargo ship with 49 survivors of the fire, which broke out Sunday morning aboard the passenger-car ferry, brought the first group of exhausted, freezing victims to the Italian port of Bari as dawn was breaking Monday - 24 hours after the fire erupted in the car hold while passengers were sleeping.
Italian and Greek rescue ships and helicopters winched passengers in small groups off the smoldering Norman Atlantic ferry in freezing temperatures and brought them to safety aboard about a dozen mercantile ships nearby, the Associated Press reported from southern Italy. Italian and Greek rescue ships and helicopters winched passengers in small groups off the smoldering Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic ferry in freezing temperatures and brought them to safety aboard about a dozen mercantile ships nearby, the Associated Press reported.
The cargo ship with the first evacuees landed in Bari at first light after first trying to dock overnight further down the coast at Brindisi. Choppy waters and massive waves prevented an overnight landing there, news reports said. Greek officials described the rescue efforts as one of the most complex search and rescue operations they’ve had to deal with in years.
Passengers were being treated for hypothermia, they said. The cargo ship with the first evacuees landed in Bari at first light after first trying to dock overnight further down the coast at Brindisi. Massive waves prevented an overnight landing there, news reports said.
The stricken ferry, carrying 422 passengers, 56 crew members and 200 vehicles, was traveling between Patros in western Greece and the eastern Italian city of Ancona when a fire broke out in the car hold. Italian navy officials said they hoped the rescue operation could be finished by night-fall.
After catching fire, the blazing ferry began drifting, buffeted by strong winds and waves, in the Adriatic Sea between Greece and Italy. Greek authorities said four dead bodies were plucked from the frigid Adriatic sea. One man was found dead in a lifeboat escape chute on the ferry, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported.
The Italian Navy said the man who died and his injured wife were transported by helicopter to the southern Italian city of Brindisi. The British Broadcasting Corporation reported the man died after jumping from the burning ship. Passengers were being treated for hypothermia, news reports said.
The Greek Coast Guard said the pair — both Greek passengers — were found in a lifeboat rescue chute. The stricken ferry, carrying 422 passengers, 56 crew members and 200 vehicles, was traveling between Patros in western Greece and the eastern Italian city of Ancona when the blaze erupted.
After catching fire, the burning ferry began drifting, buffeted by strong winds and waves, in the Adriatic Sea between Greece and Italy.
After initial rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather — ships could not reach the multi-decked ferry — Italian and Greek helicopter crews began the difficult and frightening airborne operation Sunday afternoon.After initial rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather — ships could not reach the multi-decked ferry — Italian and Greek helicopter crews began the difficult and frightening airborne operation Sunday afternoon.
Dottie Channing-Williams, the mother of a British man on the ferry, told the BBC Monday morning that her son had just been rescued after being separated from the large group he was traveling with. She called the rescue conditions “very very worrying.”Dottie Channing-Williams, the mother of a British man on the ferry, told the BBC Monday morning that her son had just been rescued after being separated from the large group he was traveling with. She called the rescue conditions “very very worrying.”
The operation was being coordinated from the Italian navy’s amphibious transport ship the San Giorgio, while the Norman Atlantic is towed to the an Italian port, the Associated Press reported from southern Italy.The operation was being coordinated from the Italian navy’s amphibious transport ship the San Giorgio, while the Norman Atlantic is towed to the an Italian port, the Associated Press reported from southern Italy.
The Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic was being operated by the Greek ferry operator, Anek Lines.The Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic was being operated by the Greek ferry operator, Anek Lines.
Passengers huddled on the vessel’s upper decks, pelted by a driving rain and hail, waiting to be rescued, according to news agencies on the scene.Passengers huddled on the vessel’s upper decks, pelted by a driving rain and hail, waiting to be rescued, according to news agencies on the scene.
Nearby merchant ships lined up to form a barrier Sunday to protect the ferry from the monster waves, Italian officials said.Nearby merchant ships lined up to form a barrier Sunday to protect the ferry from the monster waves, Italian officials said.
The Italian Coast Guard, which was coordinating the rescue operation, said the fire was extingushed about 16 hours after the blaze began. But the ferry was then enveloped in dense smoke, which the Coast Guard said was being fueled by some hotspots inside the ship, news agencies reported.The Italian Coast Guard, which was coordinating the rescue operation, said the fire was extingushed about 16 hours after the blaze began. But the ferry was then enveloped in dense smoke, which the Coast Guard said was being fueled by some hotspots inside the ship, news agencies reported.
Greek officials described the rescue efforts as one of the most complex search and rescue operations they’ve had to deal with in years.
“With the wind, smoke entered into the helicopter cabin, acrid smoke,” Maj. Antonio Laneve told Italian state TV, Reuters reported. Some of those they were trying to rescue were very frightened of being hoisted up by helicopter given the bad weather, he said.“With the wind, smoke entered into the helicopter cabin, acrid smoke,” Maj. Antonio Laneve told Italian state TV, Reuters reported. Some of those they were trying to rescue were very frightened of being hoisted up by helicopter given the bad weather, he said.
Nine of those evacuated were taken to the Italian town of Lecce, authorities said. Of those, three children and a pregnant woman were being treated for hypothermia in Lecce hospital, Reuters reported.Nine of those evacuated were taken to the Italian town of Lecce, authorities said. Of those, three children and a pregnant woman were being treated for hypothermia in Lecce hospital, Reuters reported.
Another injury was to a member of the Italian military involved in the rescue operation, Coast Guard Admiral Giovanni Pettorino said, Reuters reported.Another injury was to a member of the Italian military involved in the rescue operation, Coast Guard Admiral Giovanni Pettorino said, Reuters reported.
Pettorino told Italy’s Sky TG24 TV that two Italian tugs tried to attach themselves to the ferry in the evening, but were frustrated by the thick smoke.Pettorino told Italy’s Sky TG24 TV that two Italian tugs tried to attach themselves to the ferry in the evening, but were frustrated by the thick smoke.
Passengers described scenes of terror and chaos when the fire broke out as they slept in their cabins.Passengers described scenes of terror and chaos when the fire broke out as they slept in their cabins.
“They called first on women and children to be evacuated from the ship,” Vassiliki Tavrizelou, who was rescued along with her 2-year-old daughter, told The Associated Press.“They called first on women and children to be evacuated from the ship,” Vassiliki Tavrizelou, who was rescued along with her 2-year-old daughter, told The Associated Press.
“Ships could not approach us because of the rain and winds,” Tavrizelou said in a telephone interview from Lecce. “We were at least four hours on the deck, in the cold and rain.”“Ships could not approach us because of the rain and winds,” Tavrizelou said in a telephone interview from Lecce. “We were at least four hours on the deck, in the cold and rain.”
She recalled the ship alarm going off and seeing fire from her cabin. “Then we heard explosions,” she said. It was not immediately clear what the explosions were, and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.She recalled the ship alarm going off and seeing fire from her cabin. “Then we heard explosions,” she said. It was not immediately clear what the explosions were, and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Most of the passengers were Greek, officials said. But passengers also came from Turkey, Albania, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and France. The crew is Greek and Italian.Most of the passengers were Greek, officials said. But passengers also came from Turkey, Albania, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and France. The crew is Greek and Italian.
Daniela Deane reported from London. Deane reported from London.