BREAKING NEWS-Fireplace breaks out on Greece-Italy ferry with 288 individuals on board

A hearth broke out on a ferry crusing from Greece to Italy on Friday with 288 individuals on board, and there have been no instant stories of deaths or accidents, the Greek coast guard stated.

The Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia had sailed from Igoumenitsa, the most important port in western Greece, and was headed to the Italian port of Brindisi, about 9 hours away.

The fireplace, the reason for which was not instantly identified, broke out close to the island of Corfu within the Ionian Sea.

A video uploaded on Greek information web site Proto Thema confirmed a ferry engulfed in flames and big plumes of smoke. “Could Day” was blasting from audio system.

The coast guard stated 237 passengers and 51 crew members had been on board, and not less than three coast guard vessels had been concerned within the rescue operation.

The passengers and crew, who evacuated on lifeboats, had been being taken to Corfu, authorities stated.

Climate situations within the space had been delicate.

(Reuters)