A ferry carrying about 470 people caught fire off the Greek island of Corfu early Sunday, trapping passengers on the top decks as gale-force winds and choppy seas hampered the evacuation, AP reported. Greek and Italian rescue helicopters and vessels struggled to reach the stricken ferry, battered by 90 kilometer per hour (55 mph) winds that sent it up toward the strait between Italy and Albania. Nearby, merchant ships lined up to form a barrier to protect the ferry and facilitate rescue, said Italian Navy Capt. Riccardo Rizzotto. The fire broke out on the car deck of the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic, traveling from the Greek port of Patras to Ancona, Italy, with 422 passengers and 56 crew members on board. No one has been reported injured, and 117 people have been transported to safety â€" eight airlifted to southern Italy and the rest taken to nearby ships, said Greek Merchant Marine spokesman Nikos Lagadianos. -- SPA 20:00 LOCAL TIME 17:00 GMT تغريد
