A fire broke out on a ferry on route from Igoumenitsa to Brindisi. The Grimaldi Lines Euroferry Olympia with 288 people on board, including 237 passengers, was 10 miles off the Greek coast of Corfu when the flames started to spread, probably in the hold.
According to the Italian news agency, Ansa, at about 7 am the vessel was completely evacuated using the equipment on board. No casualties were reported.
The news was confirmed by Grimaldi’s head of public relations, Paul Kyprianou, who told Rainews 24 that the people on board had been evacuated and would be transported to Corfu, from where their return to Italy would be organized.
242 of the 288 people were rescued by the ‘Montesperone‘, a Finance Police patrol boat.
Translation by Giles Foster