ELEVEN VICTIMS IN BURNING FERRY

USPA NEWS - While a tug boat is towing the ship towards the Port of Brindisi in Apulia (Italy) a veil of mystery is lurking over 179 missing passengers of the Norman Atlantic that caught fire after leaving the Greek coast.

Eleven are the victims, three of which were Italian truck drivers from Naples. Last night the Marina Militare Vessel, San Giorgio, reached the Port of Brindisi with 200 passengers that were all identified. Meanwhile the Captain of the Norman Atlantic, Argilio Giacomazzi who abandoned the ship only after all the passengers had been evacuated, was being questioned in Bari by the Magistrate and the Port Authority Officials. Over five hours of interrogation after which the Captain and shipowner are being held responsible for shipwreck, manslaughter and unintentional injuries. At the moment 427 passengers have been rescued. The victims are still being counted. Among them two rescuers.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who is at the moment in Albania, said," there will be a thorough investigation on the incident and we must remember those who collaborated in what can be called a heroic gesture. Although the wheather conditions were making it impossible for rescue teams to reach the Norman Atlantic a tragedy was certainly avoided."