Hundreds await evacuation from smoke-filled Greek ferry
More than 200 freezing passengers and crew remained trapped on a burning ferry adrift in rough seas between Italy and Albania early Monday after enduring a second night of smoke, frigid temperatures and gale-force winds awaiting evacuation after a fire broke out. At least one person died and two were injured in the risky rescue operation.
The Italian navy said 251 of the 478 people on the ferry, sailing from the Greek port of Patras to Ancona in Italy, had been evacuated by early Monday. Most were airlifted by helicopter to other merchant vessels sailing nearby, though a few were flown to hospitals in southern Italy to be treated for hypothermia.
"Despite the smoke, the darkness and the horrible conditions, rescue activities continued without stop throughout the night," Italian navy Capt. Riccardo Rizzotto said, adding that another large Italian navy ship with a helicopter landing pad was headed to the scene to help.
