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| Fear of Stowaways as Ferry Death Toll Off Coast of Greece Rises to 13 | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| VERBANIA, Italy — The death toll in a ferry fire off the Greek coast rose to 13 on Tuesday, including two Albanian workers who died while trying to connect a cable to the stricken ship. But prosecutors said that the number could rise because of fear that passengers who boarded illegally might have been trapped in the hold, where the fire raged. | VERBANIA, Italy — The death toll in a ferry fire off the Greek coast rose to 13 on Tuesday, including two Albanian workers who died while trying to connect a cable to the stricken ship. But prosecutors said that the number could rise because of fear that passengers who boarded illegally might have been trapped in the hold, where the fire raged. |
| Exhausted passengers from the ferry, the Norman Atlantic, continued to arrive by ship at various Mediterranean ports on Tuesday, but the authorities were unable to say with certainty how many people had been rescued in a 30-hour-plus operation that involved ships, planes and helicopters from Albania, Greece and Italy. High winds and stormy seas slowed ships carrying survivors. | Exhausted passengers from the ferry, the Norman Atlantic, continued to arrive by ship at various Mediterranean ports on Tuesday, but the authorities were unable to say with certainty how many people had been rescued in a 30-hour-plus operation that involved ships, planes and helicopters from Albania, Greece and Italy. High winds and stormy seas slowed ships carrying survivors. |
| Giuseppe Volpe, the prosecutor in Bari, Italy, whose office was given jurisdiction over the criminal investigation into Sunday’s fire, said the discovery of at least three stowaways — two Afghans and a Syrian — among the survivors suggested that there could be others who boarded illegally. | Giuseppe Volpe, the prosecutor in Bari, Italy, whose office was given jurisdiction over the criminal investigation into Sunday’s fire, said the discovery of at least three stowaways — two Afghans and a Syrian — among the survivors suggested that there could be others who boarded illegally. |
| “The ship was transporting stowaways, hidden in the hold,” Mr. Volpe said at a news conference in Bari. “Our fear is that once we have recovered the wreck we will find other dead people on board.” | “The ship was transporting stowaways, hidden in the hold,” Mr. Volpe said at a news conference in Bari. “Our fear is that once we have recovered the wreck we will find other dead people on board.” |
| It remained unclear how many passengers had been on the boat, and how many had been rescued. Mr. Volpe said as many as 499 people may have been on board, not including any possible stowaways, but his office could verify only those who were rescued by Italian ships. The count was complicated after survivors were distributed among various vessels flying different national flags. | It remained unclear how many passengers had been on the boat, and how many had been rescued. Mr. Volpe said as many as 499 people may have been on board, not including any possible stowaways, but his office could verify only those who were rescued by Italian ships. The count was complicated after survivors were distributed among various vessels flying different national flags. |
| Mr. Volpe said his figures indicated that 179 people remained missing, but he said he hoped those passengers were on ships that had taken survivors to Greece. An Italian Navy ship remained off the Albanian coast to look for bodies. | Mr. Volpe said his figures indicated that 179 people remained missing, but he said he hoped those passengers were on ships that had taken survivors to Greece. An Italian Navy ship remained off the Albanian coast to look for bodies. |
| The Italian Navy said Tuesday evening that the San Giorgio, a military ship carrying the highest number of survivors, was arriving in Brindisi, Italy. | The Italian Navy said Tuesday evening that the San Giorgio, a military ship carrying the highest number of survivors, was arriving in Brindisi, Italy. |
| Mr. Volpe’s office, in conjunction with the Albanian authorities, on Tuesday took legal custody of the Norman Atlantic, which will be towed to Brindisi. There, investigators will search the ship for evidence of other stowaways and try to determine the cause of the fire, which began early Sunday morning after the ferry left a Greek port en route to Ancona, Italy. The ship’s captain and owner are under investigation. | Mr. Volpe’s office, in conjunction with the Albanian authorities, on Tuesday took legal custody of the Norman Atlantic, which will be towed to Brindisi. There, investigators will search the ship for evidence of other stowaways and try to determine the cause of the fire, which began early Sunday morning after the ferry left a Greek port en route to Ancona, Italy. The ship’s captain and owner are under investigation. |
| Mr. Volpe said that law enforcement officers had already interviewed dozens of passengers, and that passengers’ cellphone images would be examined. | Mr. Volpe said that law enforcement officers had already interviewed dozens of passengers, and that passengers’ cellphone images would be examined. |
| Survivors interviewed by the Italian news media described confusion and fear onboard, and braving cold winds and high waves as they waited rescue. The Norman Atlantic flies an Italian flag but had been leased by a Greek company, with crew members from both countries. | Survivors interviewed by the Italian news media described confusion and fear onboard, and braving cold winds and high waves as they waited rescue. The Norman Atlantic flies an Italian flag but had been leased by a Greek company, with crew members from both countries. |