Hundreds rescued after fire erupts on ferry heading from Greece to Italy

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS (AA) – Hundreds of people have been rescued after a fire broke out on a ferry going from Greece to Italy early on Friday.

There have been no reports of injuries or deaths so far, according to the Greek coast guard.

The Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia set off from Greece’s western port of Igoumenitsa with 288 passengers and crew members, heading to the Italian port of Brindisi, a journey of about nine hours.

The fire, the cause of which is yet to be ascertained, erupted near the island of Corfu in the Ionian Sea.

At least 242 people have been rescued and transferred to Corfu, with one passenger with breathing problems taken to a hospital, according to latest information from the coast guard.

Several coast guard vessels and firefighting boats are currently engaged in the rescue operation.