Posted: 2022-02-20 10:37:54

A passenger listed as missing after a fire swept through a ferry sailing from Greece to Italy has been found alive by rescuers.

A Greek shipping ministry official said the male survivor was rescued from the vessel's stern.

The discovery was made as the ferry was being towed to shore.

Greek television video showed a man climbing down a stepladder from the vessel onto a tugboat tied to it.

It reported that the man was a 21-year-old from Belarus.

The blaze broke out on the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia on Friday as it travelled from the Greek port of Igoumenitsa to the Italian port of Brindisi.

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The Greek coast guard rescued 280 out of 292 passengers and crew.

According to the ferry operator and Greek authorities, 11 passengers are still missing.

Rescued ferry passengers aboard rescue ship.
Passengers were rescued from the ferry by Italian authorities.(Reuters: Stamatis Katapodis, Eurokinissi)

They are from Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Lithuania.

The ferry is part of the fleet of group Grimaldi Lines and has a capacity of up to 560 passengers, according to the company's website.

Grimaldi Lines spokesman Paul Kyprianou said the cause of the fire was still under investigation but there were indications it started from the ship's hold.

Reuters/ABC

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