10 Dead in Greek Ferry Fire

The Greek ferry that caught fire on Sunday has been completely evacuated with a final count of 10 casualties, with more than 40 people unaccounted for, according to authorities. Three more bodies were discovered by the Italian coast guard after evacuating all of the other passengers, but Italy's defense minister Robert Pinotti said the Italian navy rescued 427 people, which accounts for 437 people. However, authorities initially said the ferry was carrying 478 people total. Italian transport minister Maurizio Lupi said it was uncertain whether the passenger list was accurate, as the ferry had made a stop on a Greek island before the fire broke out about 40 nautical miles northwest of the Greek island of Corfu, while traveling from the Greek port of Patras to the Italian city of Ancona on the Adriatic Sea. Many of the passengers remained stranded in frigid temperatures and rough waters between Italy and Albania for more than 24 hours. Italian and Greek helicopters have been airlifting passengers out after weather conditions made it impossible for a rescue ship to dock alongside it. One passenger told Greek TV station Mega, “Our shoes were starting to melt from the heat” on the lower deck while another said some aboard were suffering from hypothermia.