This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/frightening-airborne-rescue-for-stricken-ferry-passengers/2014/12/29/6b13c3da-8f36-11e4-a900-9960214d4cd7_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Frightening airborne rescue for stricken ferry passengers; seven dead Frightening airborne rescue for stricken ferry passengers; eight dead
(about 1 hour later)
Battling a gale-force storm and monster waves, rescue crews used helicopters to pluck more than 430 people from the frigid decks of a Greek-operated ferry crippled by fire in the Adriatic Sea. At least seven people died before the all-night operation was complete, officials said Monday. Battling a gale-force storm and monster waves, rescue crews used helicopters to pluck more than 420 people from the frigid decks of a Greek-operated ferry crippled by fire in the Adriatic Sea. At least eight people died before the all-night operation was complete, officials said Monday.
The joint Greek-Italian mission turned from a sea-going rescue into a dramatic airborne recovery after rough seas blocked vessels from reaching the multi-story ferry off the Albanian coast. The joint Greek-Italian mission turned from a sea-going rescue into a dramatic airborne recovery after rough seas blocked vessels from reaching the multi-story ferry, the Norman Atlantic, off the Albanian coast.
At one stage after the fire broke out Sunday, merchant ships lined up to form a barrier to protect the ferry from towering waves, Italian officials said.At one stage after the fire broke out Sunday, merchant ships lined up to form a barrier to protect the ferry from towering waves, Italian officials said.
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called the operation to save at least 432 passengers and crew “massive and unprecedented.” Italy’s premier, Matteo Renzi, said the rescuers prevented “a slaughter at sea.” Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called the operation to save passengers and crew “massive and unprecedented.” Italy’s premier, Matteo Renzi, said the rescuers prevented “a slaughter at sea.”
Renzi said the vessel’s captain and a team of Italian sailors remained aboard the ferry, which would be towed to port. The precise number of people aboard varied in the hours after the rescue missions ended, suggesting some people may have purchased tickets but did not board in Greece or could have been traveling illegally.
Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors opened an investigation into whether negligence or wrongdoing may have played a role in the blaze aboard the Norman Atlantic, operated by the Greek ferry company Anek Lines. Italy’s transport minister, Maurizio Lupi, said a total of 427 people — including 56 crew members — were rescued. Previous reports by Greek officials were slightly higher.
The ferry company also had said earlier that there were 478 passengers and crew members on board. The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear.
Italian officials said at least eight people died, according to Italy’s state-run Ansa news agency. The dead included a Greek man who became trapped in a lifeboat chute, the Greek coast guard said. Some of the other bodies were found at sea.
The fire began in the car hold as the ferry traveled from Patras in western Greece to the Italian port of Ancona. Soon, passengers raced to the decks — in freezing rain and hail — to escape the flames and eye-stinging smoke lashed by winds gusting over 45 mph.The fire began in the car hold as the ferry traveled from Patras in western Greece to the Italian port of Ancona. Soon, passengers raced to the decks — in freezing rain and hail — to escape the flames and eye-stinging smoke lashed by winds gusting over 45 mph.
During the night, helicopters winched passengers off the smoldering ferry and brought them to safety aboard merchant ships, the Associated Press reported.During the night, helicopters winched passengers off the smoldering ferry and brought them to safety aboard merchant ships, the Associated Press reported.
A Greek truck driver, Christos Perlis, described a scene of panic and chaos as passengers battled to be taken by some of the first helicopters. The plan was for children and then women to board, he told the AP. A Greek truck driver, Christos Perlis, described a scene of panic and chaos as passengers battled to be airlifted by some of the first helicopters. The plan was for children and then women to board, he told the AP.
“But the men, they started hitting us so they could get on first,” said Perlis, 32.“But the men, they started hitting us so they could get on first,” said Perlis, 32.
A statement from the Greek coast guard — citing figures from the lead rescuers in Italy — said 432 people had been rescued and seven bodies were recovered, the AP reported. The ferry company had said previously that there were 478 passengers and crew members on board. The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear. Renzi, the Italian premier, said the vessel’s captain and a team of Italian sailors remained aboard the ferry, which would be towed to port.
The dead included a Greek man who became trapped in a lifeboat chute, the Greek coast guard said. Some of the other bodies were found at sea. Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors opened an investigation into whether negligence or wrongdoing may have played a role in the blaze aboard the Norman Atlantic, operated by the Greek ferry company Anek Lines.
Dottie Channing-Williams, the mother of a British man on the ferry, told the BBC that her son had just been rescued early Monday. She called the conditions at sea “very, very worrying.”Dottie Channing-Williams, the mother of a British man on the ferry, told the BBC that her son had just been rescued early Monday. She called the conditions at sea “very, very worrying.”
The Italian coast guard said the fire was extinguished about 16 hours after it began. But the ferry was then enveloped in dense smoke.The Italian coast guard said the fire was extinguished about 16 hours after it began. But the ferry was then enveloped in dense smoke.
“With the wind, smoke entered into the helicopter cabin, acrid smoke,” Maj. Antonio Laneve told Italian state TV.“With the wind, smoke entered into the helicopter cabin, acrid smoke,” Maj. Antonio Laneve told Italian state TV.
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 AP.“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 AP.
“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 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 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.
Deane reported from London. Deane reported from London. Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.