By Matthew Roscoe • Published: 18 Feb 2022 • 7:10
BREAKING: Hundreds flee ferry engulfed by HUGE fire off Greece.
BREAKING NEWS – Hundreds of people have been forced to flee a ferry off Greece after it was engulfed by a HUGE fire on Friday, February 18. Police said three tug boats and three patrol boats were sent to help the 237 passengers and 51 crew members escape the ship. The massive fire broke out on the Italian-flagged ship while it was travelling through the Mediterranean’s Ionian Sea at around 4.30 am (local time) off the northern coast of Corfu, between Greece and Albania, an official from the Greek coastguard’s press office told AFP. The captain of the Euroferry Olympia, which was heading to Italy from the Greek city of Igoumenitsa, is said to have ordered the evacuation. “The captain of the Euroferry Olympia asked the passengers to leave the boat,” police said. No casualties have been reported, Secretary of State for the Merchant Navy Kostas Katsafados told Greek radio station Skai. The rescued ship passengers and crew members were being taken to the nearby Greek island of Corfu, said the Greek coastguard. Although some people still remain missing, according to local reports. The cause of the fire is not yet known and an investigation has begun, according to the AFP.
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Originally from the UK, Matthew is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
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