More than 400 passengers are trapped on a burning Italian ferry

(using google translate)
- The fire broke out in the garage of the ship at dawn Sunday and has not gone out yet
- Seven ships have rushed to the area and have created a circle to "protect" the Norman Atlantic waves - 478 total passengers remain on board 422 - 56meles crew
- Windy southerly winds over 8 Beaufort and hail sweep area
- They have already rescued more than 40 passengers who managed to get into lifeboats - The captain of Cruse Europa coordinates now
- The rest remain on board - No information on missing persons
- "Our psychology kinked" said the truck driver NewsIt aboard the ship

More than 400 passengers are trapped on a burning Italian ferry

After a fire started in the garage of the ship and spread quickly, the passengers were forced to go to the upper deck where the rain and hailstorm keeps the fire away. The smoke makes breathing difficult while they cannot leave the ship due to gale-force winds and lack of places in the remaining lifeboats.
It's a nightmare....


translate.googleusercontent.com...://www.newsit.gr /ellada/kloios-ploion-gia-epibates-norman-atlantic-2812&usg=ALkJrhjTn9p7XIk-
46xcU3FftMwmCf18SA
news.sky.com...

a reply to: Dr1Akula

just read the story on skynews.

Not a great xmas & New Year for some.

Funny enough, i was thinking of continuing my short story last night which just by coincidence had a line in it whereby a couple of people are travelling to Greece and possibly Italy... I know this has nothing to do with the news story but I do get these connections every now and again with things that are about to happen.

Ferry leaves Greece.... I think about Greece.
Ferry was on its way to Italy... I think about Italy.

Strange but true.

a reply to: Dr1Akula

One rescued guy said his shoes were already melting. They better move fast to get the rest of the passengers out of that boat, bad weather is making the rescue difficult. I'm afraid they could start jumping soon. Terrible.

www.corriere.it...

Here you can follow the rescue operations :

www.corriere.it...

a reply to: TruthxIsxInxThexMist
It must be a coincidence, (i'll check it out btw),
but try to add something positive on your next thoughts, just in case

a reply to: Trueman

Wow that's a real life thriller! I read somewhere that the captain told them to
jump to the sea, but with these terrible conditions it would be a big risk imo.

Yes, it is:

THE CAPTAIN - "The ferry on fire is ungovernable and is drifting toward the Albanian coast," said the captain of the vessel in contact with the operations center of harbor. The fire is still in place, according to the commander there are flames, but contained.

www.ilrestodelcarlino.it...

Jumping into the sea this time of year gives a human roughly five minuets before hypothermia sets in, jump or boil, grim choice.

Other boats are trying to create a shield against the waves, making a circle around the Norman Atlantic. Rescue in progress. Oh Lord, I want a happy end.

video.sky.it...

150 persons saved. 250 still in the Norman Atlantic.

Norman Atlantic lost power. Unable to use the lifeboat anymore. Italy sending helicopters.

The waves are 6 meters or 18 ft, which makes it difficult. Rescue ships are having a rough time trying to get to it. They say there's a tugboat on the way though to point the vessel into the wind to stabilize it. Hopefully this will blow the fire and smoke away from the passengers.

Horrific

One of the reasons I didn't join the navy this is a terrifying thought.

Hoping for the best...

English source video :



This other one (italian), says already 2 persons not found. They are jumping and helicopters rescuing people floating, see that on the link.

video.corriere.it...' width='540' height='340'>

Passenger (google translate)
"We're out on the deck , we have frostbite , choke on the smoke . The boat still burned , floors boil ... Other tremble , others coughing from the smoke ".
" We have put all lifejackets and wait " he noted.
Commenting on the occasion of the event , said that there was no sufficient warning and that most passengers were sleeping at the time and were awakened by the smell . "It was the smell of burning plastic that flew us all !"

He stated that the captain told them that a tug will come to tow the ship . "The issue so far is we do not know if we will endure ," he said .

www.dimokratiki.gr

While the passengers agony is understandable, the fire is now under control and only deck#5 is still in flames.
Hopefully it will soon end well for all of them.

Three children among the few rescued passengers of Norman Atlantic - they have hypothermia but they are not in life threatening condition.

According to a rescuer who returned to the city of Otranto , the fire has spread again in some parts of the ship which began to show a inclination towards one side.

The good news is that the winds are slowing down while the rain keeps going
www.newsit.gr...

a reply to: AreUKiddingMe

Ouch. Thanks for that tidbit. Bring in the helicopters.

And rescue people or provide rafts for those that prefer the deep blue sea over the devil.

BBC reporting that at least 131 people rescued from the #NormanAtlantic ferry so far.

source

Still many trapped on the burning Norman Atlantic.


UPDATE 5-Airlift begins for hundreds trapped on burning Italian ferry

Greek Shipping Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said the very bad weather, with winds of up to 55 miles (88 kilometres) per hour earlier, made the operation extremely difficult.

"We are doing everything we can to save those on board and no one, no one will be left helpless in this tough situation," he told reporters. "It is one of the most complicated rescue operations that we have ever done."

Command of the operation was transferred to Italy after the ship drifted out of Greek waters but officials were coordinating closely and an Albanian coastguard vessel was also taking part.

A coastguard official said nearby passenger and container ships had attempted to form a ring around the burning vessel to try to form a windbreak to allow small rescue boats to approach, but the rough seas made the manoeuvre difficult.

Explosions?


1 dead, hundred still stranded in Greek ferry disaster as choppy seas hamper evacuation

She recalled the ship alarm going off and seeing fire from her cabin. "Then we heard explosions," she said. It was not immediately clear what the explosions were, and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

a reply to: Hellmutt

Probably the explosions heard were from the vehicles , since all of them were destroyed by the fire!
They were also many tank trucks carrying flammable liquids. Hell all around...
It's already dark now, making things even more difficult for the poor passengers,
Many of them are crying, are freezing, and they are in panic.
Some are calling their relatives with their cellphones saying ''hurry up, we will be burned alive, or freeze to death''

An Italian tugboat has already bound the ship but rumors are that Italians don't want the ship to go to the Albanian ports nearby and insist that the ship should be carried to the Italian coasts. (Wtf)

This video was captured earlier by a passenger inside the ship

www.rai.tv...

how terrifying

a reply to: Stormdancer777

link not working....it is working just took a long time to start and the page was blank before it started

yes this is a terrible situation....