Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Canadian man among those rescued in aftermath of Greece ferry fire

In this image released by the Italian Navy, smoke billows from the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic that caught fire in the Adriatic Sea, Monday, Dec. 29, 2014. Fighting high winds and stormy seas, helicopter rescue crews on Monday evacuated the last of hundreds of people trapped aboard a Greek ferry that caught fire off Albania. The death toll climbed to eight as survivors told of a frantic rush to escape the flames and pelting rain. The evacuation of the ferry was completed in the early afternoon with the rescue of 427 people, including 56 crew members, said Italy's transport minister, Maurizio Lupi. The original ferry manifest listed 422 passengers and 56 crew members, but Lupi said it was premature to speculate on whether people were still missing. He suggested that there might have been some people who reserved a spot on the ferry but did not board. (AP Photo/Italian Navy, ho)
The Canadian Press - In this image released by the Italian Navy, smoke billows from the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic that caught fire in the Adriatic Sea, Monday, Dec. 29, 2014
Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press
A Canadian is among hundreds of people saved in a dramatic rescue at sea after a fire on board a ferry travelling between Greece and Italy.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Department says they are aware of a Canadian who was on board the Norman Atlantic when it caught fire Sunday and has now been rescued.

But the government isn't releasing any further information.

A spokesperson at the Greek embassy in Ottawa said earlier Monday that one Canadian, identified as N. Pejcinovksi, was listed among the 422 passengers and 56 crew on the ship's manifest but his whereabouts were unknown.

The fire broke out before dawn Sunday on a car deck of the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic on a journey from the Greek port of Patras to Ancona in Italy. At least 10 people died.

Fighting high winds and stormy seas, rescue crews on Monday completed evacuating 427 people from the boat as survivors told of a frantic rush to escape, caught among flames, pelting rain and passengers who fought others for rescue.

One Greek man died on Sunday while trying to get into a lifeboat, with his wife, who survived; and four bodies were recovered from the sea on Monday.

The circumstances and identities of the other three fatalities are unknown.

The search in the Adriatic Sea for others continues amid serious discrepancies in the ship's manifest, which contained 478 names.

The original ferry manifest listed 422 passengers and 56 crew members, but Italian navy Adm. Giovanni Pettorino said 80 of those rescued did not appear on it at all.

Canadian foreign affairs spokesperson Caitlin Workman said no further information is being released on the rescued Canadian for privacy reasons.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with those affected by the ferry incident in the Adriatic Sea," she said in an email.

"Consular officials have been in contact with Greek and Italian officials and stand ready to provide consular assistance if and as required," she added.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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