Elite forces and frogmen sent to rescue passengers onboard the Euroferry Olympia
Five out of the 14 people feared missing after a catastrophic ferry fire in Greece have been found alive, Greek media reported. The blaze erupted on the Euroferry Olympia, a ferry traveling from Greece to Italy, around 4 a.m. on February 18. As the fire raged, elite rescue forces, including frogmen, were dispatched to assist in the operation.
The ferry had departed from Greece’s Igoumenitsa port with 239 passengers and 51 crew members, including 25 vehicles and 153 trucks. It was heading to Brindisi, Italy, when the fire broke out about two hours after leaving port, approximately 10 miles north of Corfu. The blaze triggered explosions and sent large plumes of smoke billowing into the air, witnessed by island residents.
Among those rescued were two truck drivers who had been trapped in the ship’s garage, a Bulgarian and a Turk. A Super Puma helicopter made several attempts to approach the vessel as part of the rescue effort. Meanwhile, four lifeboats, carrying about 279 people, were directed towards the Ionian island of Corfu. Authorities were working to match those who arrived with the official passenger list.
While Greek officials continued to coordinate the rescue operation, the Greek shipping ministry emphasized that no conclusions could be drawn until all passengers were accounted for. Despite unconfirmed reports of missing persons, the Italian captain of the vessel claimed that all passengers had disembarked. The investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.
