Rescue efforts continue on Norman Atlantic

Earlier Greek authorities confirmed that their Italian counterparts have spotted but not recovered yet four bodies from the sea around the Norman Atlantic. That means that the death toll stands so far at 5.

Italian media had reported that one Turkish passenger of the Norman Atlantic stated that he saw at least four dead bodies on the ship. The passenger was among those rescued and transported to the port of Bari on the cargo ship ‘Spirit of Piraeus’.

“I saw four dead people with my own eyes,” he is reported to have told journalists. “I am absolutely certain, they were in front of me.”

The operation to airlift passengers and crew off the ship is fully underway.

The pasengers are being transferred off of the Norman Atlantic onto other waiting ships. Terrified, exhausted but also relieved. At least for them, the nightmare is at its end.

Following rescue efforts that continued through the night, 391 people have now been airlifted off the ferry. The ferry was carrying a total of 478 passengers and crew.

Rescuers have been battling strong northwesterly winds between 6-7 Beaufort, accompanied by low temperatures. Due to the rough seas it has as yet been impossible for another ship to approach the Norman Atlantic and rescue passengers.

Over 24 hours have passed since a fire broke out in the garage of the vessel under unknown circumstances in the early hours of Sunday morning. The fire spread throughout the ship driving passengers out on deck. The vessel was carrying about 200 vehicles

One man is reported to have died after becoming trapped in a stairwell of the ship. According to SKAI all of the passengers and crew registered in the ship’s logs have been accounted for. However there have been reports that irregular immigrants were also on board the ship whose fate – if they were indeed on board – is unknown.

The fire on board the Norman Atlantic is now subsiding, according to Italian authorities who are overseeing the rescue operation although the ship remains immobilized. Earlier attempts to tow the vessel to Italy were frustrated by the rough seas which caused the tow lines to snap. Towing efforts have been suspended for the time being.

In a difficult and slow process, Super Puma helicopters have been airlifting passengers two by two off the Norman Atlantic and onto waiting ships in the area. As well as the Italian forces, two Greek Super Puma helicopters have been taking part in the rescue effort and a Greek tug boat is reportedly en route to the area.

One such ship – the Spirit of Piraeus – reached the port of Bari carrying 49 passengers to safety. Of those 25 are reported to be Greeks. 

Tens of other passengers have been transferred to the ports of Lecce and Brindisi.

SKAI also reports that Italian health workers have been winched onto the Norman Atlantic to treat passengers and crew who have been exposed to the elements for many hours.