Seven people are death due to the fire of the ferry Norman Atlantic, that caught fire yesterday off the coast of Albania. Earlier today the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi reported that all the other passengers and crew members were rescued. Renzi has praised the tremendous rescuers. The Greek government had earlier spoken of four victims, after a castaway had reported having seen other bodies and also the wife of the first victim was said to have seen a dead body in the water where she and her husband were for four hours.
The Coast Guard Evacuated all passengers who were left on the ferry. In the end, put all prejudice, have remained on board only the captain and some of the crew to inspect the vessel. "An intervention so full of passion, dedication and tenacity has prevented a real catastrophe", said the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, about the rescuers. "I express my gratitude on behalf of all Italians. The work of our countrymen render us proud of the flag and our common membership".
The rescue of the passengers has not stopped all day yesterday and the night, and lasted until early afternoon today. Rescue operations were coordinated by the Navy ship San Giorgio. Of the 478 people taken on board the ferry (422 passengers and 56 crew members) almost half are Greek. In Brindisi, were brought the 4 most seriously injured, two who were on board the ship, a Navy Rescue swimmer and a soldier of the Harbour. With helicopters were transferred in Puglia also several children and women where they were assisted by doctors and taken to hospitals because of Puglia shown symptoms of hypothermia, but none of them are life threatening.
Several children were on the ferry Norman Atlantic. Three children rescued and taken by helicopter to the base of the 61st Galatina flock were transferred by ambulance with their mothers in hospitals of Galashiels and Lecce. A Galatina are now two of the rescued children with their mother who is pregnant.
The last inspection on the ferry 'Norman Atlantic' found six 'deficiencies' but had not resulted in the detention of the ship. Among the six problems found in the inspection of 19 December last year in the port of Patras, Greece, on the part of 'international organization' Paris Mou ', the main concern in fact the fire doors ("Fire doors / openings in fire-resisting divisions ") that were on the board of the inspection as" dysfunctional. The public prosecutor has opened an investigation of Lecce then transferred to the Prosecutor of Bari for competence, since the ship is registered in Italy.
