Environment Minister Roberto Cingolani is following developments in constant contact with the Italian Coast Guard, which is monitoring the situation on board the ferry in cooperation with the Greek authorities, according to Rome. The Ministry of the Environment in Rome has already made available to the Greek authorities a ship belonging to the Italian anti-pollution service, the “Ievoli white”, which is currently based in Bari. A ship belonging to the Italian Coast Guard “Diciotti”, equipped with anti-pollution devices, has already arrived in the area of the accident. There is a team of experts on board.
According to Greek media, the Corfu Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into suspected shipwreck in connection with the fire on the Euroferry ferry, which was carrying 290 people. 278 people were rescued, 12 are missing. The investigation is being coordinated by two deputy prosecutors under the supervision of the head of the Corfu Public Prosecutor’s Office. The extinguishing work on the ferry “Eurofarry Olympia”, which caught fire on the journey from Igoumenitsa to Brindisi, is still ongoing. Efforts are being made to prevent the ship from sinking, according to Greek TV channel Skai.
The Coast Guard told the broadcaster that the heat stress on the ship, the darkness and thick smoke made it difficult for the rescuers, who are still looking for 12 missing people. Temperatures inside the ship reached 600 degrees Celsius.
Source: Nachrichten
