(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) At least 11 people perished in the pre-dawn blaze on December 28 aboard the Norman Atlantic on a voyage between Greece and Italy.
The Norman Atlantic ferry isseen after it was towed into the port of Brindisi. -AP
For a second day fierce heat from a slow-burning blaze kept firefighters and other investigators on Saturday from searching the hold and vehicle decks of a Greek ferry for more bodies.
At least 11 people perished in the pre-dawn blaze on December 28 aboard the Norman Atlantic on a voyage between Greece and Italy. Authorities fear more bodies might be inside the vehicle deck where the fire began.
The ferry was towed into the Italian port of Brindisi on Friday morning. Port Capt. Mario Valente said on Saturday that temperatures were “very high” inside the deck. Smoke still poured from the wreck. There was no estimate of when the search might begin.
Four Greek brothers waited at dockside for news of a missing cousin a truck driver.
Tsakoumis Ioannis one of the brothers said an uncle was located in a hospital where he is being treated for burns on his head and arms. Their cousin Sofos Ioannis is missing.
“What expectation can we have” Ioannis said adding in frustration that the family hasn’t heard anything.
Valente said port authorities would assist the family as best they could. ‘‘We hope their questions will soon find answers” Valente said.
Some survivors raised the possibility that truckers slept in their vehicles.
Greece on Friday indicated as many as 19 people are accounted for while the Italian prosecutor leading the investigation of the fire said a few days earlier the figure could be even higher.
In addition to known missing it is possible migrants might have come on board secretly when the ferry left Greek ports possibly hidden in some of the many trucks transported by the ferry.
The cause of the blaze was still unknown. Investigators also want to know if any safety rules were violated including during evacuation.
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