Greece – Euroferry Olympia: 12 passengers still missing

Authorities are searching for the 12 missing people from the “Euroferry Olympia” and, as it became known, despite the fact that more than 24 hours have passed since the fire broke out, there are still small outbreaks.

The Greek Shipping Minister, Mr. Giannis Plakiotakis, stated that a specialized teams are in the area trying to find the missing passengers, but also to investigate the causes of the accident.

As the Minister stated, small fires are still burning on the ferry and, after their extinguishing is completed, it will be towed to a safe place and then the fuel will be pumped out to avoid environmental pollution.

“From the very first moment, there was a direct and giant operation through the Coast Guard, the Air Force, the Navy, as a result of which 280 passengers and crew members were rescued and transported safely to Corfu. Search operations to find the 12 missing passengers are underway. Among them, there are 3 Greeks, with the families of whom we are in constant contact. Even a specialist psychologist from the Coast Guard is in touch with them”, he stated characteristically.

Three Greeks missing

As for the Greeks who are missing, according to the minister, one of them is said to be of Cretan origin, but all three live in Athens.

He noted that the rescue operation of the passengers was a heroic act, in particularly difficult conditions.

Surveys at first light

The investigations started again today at first light.

Until last night, according to the Coast Guard, the thermal loads on the ship, the darkness and the thick smoke made the work of the rescuers difficult.

The official number of the missing passengers has risen from 11 to 12 as one of the two people released from the ferry’s garage was not on the official passenger list. He is an Afghan refugee who apparently boarded the ship secretly in order to cross into Italy. Among the missing passeners there are three Greeks, while it is possible that the number of the missing ones be higher as other immigrants or refugees who are not on the official passenger list may be on board.

The rescue operation of the trapped passengers

The two trapped passengerswere resοrted to the 5th underground deck, in order to escape the flames. The rescue operation lasted many hours.

According to an announcement by the Coast Guard, the two drivers were found by the specialized teams that boarded the ferry by helicopter. The Super Puma of the Air Force immediately rushed to the spot to pick up the two drivers, who were taken to the General Hospital of Corfu for medical treatment. According to a local media report, the 65-year-old Bulgarian was intubated as his condition was more critical.

The chronicle of the ferry engulfed in fires

It all started at 4:00 in the morning, when the ferry broadcasted a distress signal. It was the moment when the nightmare of the 239 passengers of “Euroferry Olympia”, that sailed from Igoumenitsa to Italy, began.

The Italian-flagged, Euroferry Olympia, departed at 01.30 in the morning from Igoumenitsa bound for Italy. The ship’s crew spotted the fire in the third garage, but it quickly spread throughout the ship.

On 04.12 the captain of the ship contacted the headquarters of the company and informed them that a fire had broken out in the garage number 3, even asking for immediate help. The distress signal reached the operations room of the Ministry of Merchant Shipping, from where an order was given for immediate mobilization. Five minutes later the ship was on alert. The crew informed the passengers, while inspections began in all cabins. According to the Coast Guard, the ship was carrying 239 passengers, 51 crew members, 25 cars and 153 trucks.

The ferry was already on fire, when the crew offered life jackets to the passengers. Immediately they boarded the rescue boats that rushed to the spot, while passenger boats that sailed in the area and rescuers of the Coast Guard and the Italian Coast Guard approached the ferry to rescue the passengers. At 05.14 the process of abandoning the ferry began.

The dawn found most of the passengers safe and sound on the deck of a floating boat. They all wore life jackets and isothermal blankets to protect themselves from the cold.

It was then that the really hard efforts of the rescue forces for the missing and the two trapped pasasengers began. The ships carrying firefighters with vehicles arrived right next to the Euroferry Olympia and were thrown into the firefighting battle, while a Coast Guard helicopter was coordinating the efforts from the air.

The testimonies of the passengers are shocking

After hours of agony and suffering, the first passengers who were rescued arrived at the port of Corfu. Among them, there were families with babies.

Most described their adventure as the worst experience of their lives, and could not hide their fatigue and anxiety.

Most of the passengers, however, expressed their gratitude to the crew who helped them to escape the fires, while after their rescue, they immediately contacted their families. The rescued ones have been transported safely to hotels on the island of Corfu and will immediately return to their place of work and residence.