Eleven missing after massive blaze on ferry near Greece

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Plumes of thick black smoke billowed from the large passenger ferry as the fire blazed. It was not known what caused the fire.

Most of the passengers were rescued by an Italian customs inspection boat that was passing nearby. It was later joined by six boats from Greece’s coast guard and four helicopters, as well as a coast guard vessel from nearby Albania, several firefighting vessels and privately-chartered boats.

Colonel Felice Lodovico Simone Cicchetti, the captain of the Italian customs boat, said: “The flames were incredibly high, we were a few miles away from the ferry when it happened. The fire was so big and fast that in a matter of five minutes it became unmanageable for the people aboard.”

There were around 150 trucks and trailers on board the 600ft-long ferry and around 30 passenger vehicles.

Hours after the fire broke out, the vessel was still ablaze.

“Damage is severe because despite the efforts, the crew was unable to extinguish the fire,” said Paul Kyprianou from the ferry’s operating company Grimaldi Lines.

As smoke poured from the ferry, passengers huddled in yellow blankets on an Italian rescue vessel.

The words “May Day” repeatedly blasted from speakers on board the ferry, video footage showed.

Around 10 people were treated for smoke inhalation and breathing difficulties in a hospital on Corfu.

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