Greek and Italian coast guard ships rushed to rescue 411 passengers and 55 crew after a fire broke out on a ferry sailing from the port city of Patras in Greece to Italy, dpa reported. Private broadcaster Mega said the fire started in the garage and was quickly spreading through the ship, which was sailing 30 nautical miles off the coast of the Greek island of Corfu when it sent a distress signal. The ship has been identified as Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic, which belongs to Greek ferry line ANEK. It was heading to the Italian port of Ancona. Many passengers were on deck waiting to be evacuated. Others were reportedly trapped in one section of the ship's top deck. Media reports said 150 passengers boarded a rescue boat but only 30 managed to be transferred safely to a cargo ship which was sailing in the area due to bad weather. Greek and Italian helicopters and rescue vessels were also in the area as well as the passenger ship Europa Cruise, Merchant Marine Minister Miltiades Varvitsiotis said.
