Rescue Efforts Continue For 12 Missing Persons In Greece Ferry Fire

Rescuers have continued the search efforts to find 12 missing persons on Saturday, in the Italian-flagged Greece ferry which caught fire.

The Greek coastguard told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) that overnight, patrol ships combed the area off the holiday island hoping to locate survivors.

The fire on the ferry prevented rescuers from boarding on Saturday morning, but a helicopter, a frigate, a fire-fighting vessel and six tug boats were operating in the area.

Rescuers brought 280 passengers to safety after the blaze on the Euroferry Olympia broke out en route Italy from Greece.

The coastguard said all of the missing persons are truck drivers, which are seven from Bulgaria, three from Greece, one from Turkey and one from Lithuania.

The ferry was officially carrying 239 passengers and 51 crew, as well as 153 trucks and trailers and 32 passenger vehicles.

According to the Kathimerini newspaper, since June 2017, the Syndicate of Greek Professional Truck Drivers had warned about the conditions on Euroferry Olympia ships as well as that of the Euroferry Egnazia.