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Norman Atlantic ferry fire: Criminal probe launched into how blaze started and escalated Norman Atlantic ferry fire: Criminal probe launched as five confirmed dead while boat found to have safety 'deficiencies'
(35 minutes later)
Italy opened a criminal investigation today into the ferry fire which broke out on the car deck yesterday morning off the coast of Corfu. Italy opened a criminal investigation today into the ferry fire which broke out yesterday morning and killed five as a safety inspection prior to sail shows there were “deficiencies” with the fire doors and emergency systems.
Prosecutors in the Italian port of Bari opened the case to examine whether negligence played a part in the catastrophe that claimed the life of one Greek man and left more than 140 stranded in the cold to escape the spreading flames. Prosecutors in the Italian port of Bari opened the case to examine whether negligence played a part in the catastrophe on the Norman Atlantic vessel. Five people have died, coastguard spokesman Nikos Lagadianos confirmed.
The investigation will also explore how the blaze on the car deck had started at 6am local time and how it had spread so quickly that the plastic on passengers shoes started to melt. The Italian owner of the boat, Visemar Di Navigazione, has insisted that the vessel was in full working order and had passed a technical inspection on 19 December, as reported by AFP.
The Italian owner of the boat, Visemar Di Navigazione, has insisted that the vessel was in full working order and had passed a technical inspection on December 19, as reported by AFP. However, an online report by ship safety organisation Paris MoU into the same investigation on 19 December states that some fire doors had malfunctioned and emergency system parts were “missing”. It is not known if they were repaired before the ferry left the port.
However, an online report by ship inspection organisation Paris Mou states that some fire doors had malfunctioned and emergency system parts were “missing”. It is not known if they were repaired before the ferry left the port. The online report which shows the faulty fire doors on the ship One Greek man was found dead after he became trapped in a lifeboat chute with his wife, who suffered injuries. More than 140 have been stranded and sleeping on the cold and wet top decks overnight while trying to escape the spreading flames.
The online report which shows the faulty fire doors on the ship Two British people are still on board the Italian-owned Norman Atlantic vessel, that was sailing to Greece from Italy, with more than 140 stranded passengers. Four British people have already been taken to safety. The investigation will also explore how the blaze on the car deck had started, at 6am local time, and how it had spread so quickly that the plastic on passengers shoes started to melt.
Greek Shipping Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis has said that due to the stormy conditions the rescue operation has proved extremely difficult in saving the remaining passengers. A cook on the ship is reported to have said in a call to his wife: “I cannot breathe, we are all going to burn like rats. God save us.”
Around 391 have been rescued so far out of the 478 passengers and crew members.
The news of the four subsequent deaths reached dry land when a cargo ship that had rescued 49 people, including four children, docked in Bari.
Two British people are still on board the Italian-owned Norman Atlantic vessel, that was sailing to Greece from Italy, with more than 140 stranded passengers. Four British people have already been taken to safety.
Greek Shipping Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis has said that due to the stormy conditions the rescue operation has proved extremely difficult in saving the remaining passengers. Helicopters completed 34 trips in winds of more than 40 knots.
He had said: “We are doing everything we can to save those on board and no one, no one will be left helpless in this tough situation.He had said: “We are doing everything we can to save those on board and no one, no one will be left helpless in this tough situation.
“It is one of the most complicated rescue operations that we have ever done.”“It is one of the most complicated rescue operations that we have ever done.”