Widely different estimates of those still missing after Adriatic Sea ferry fire

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Italy believes 98 people may remain unaccounted for after Norman Atlantic disaster, but Greece claims only 18 are missing
norman atlantic
Smoke billows from the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic ferry that caught fire in the Adriatic Sea, killing at least 11 people. Photograph: Antonio Calanni/AP


The numbers ranged from as many as 98, according to the Italian prosecutor Giuseppe Volpe, to 18, according to the Greek merchant marine ministry. Greece says Italy’s list is full of duplications and misspellings but the discrepancy could not be immediately explained since the prosecutor’s office was closed for the New Year holiday.

A tug began towing the fire-ravaged ferry across wind-whipped seas toward Italy on Thursday afternoon.

Giuseppe Barretta, the owner of the tug boat company, told the Associated Press in the Adriatic port of Brindisi that the operation had started near the coast of Albania, where the Norman Atlantic ferry had been stranded after Sunday’s pre-dawn fire. He estimated the towing could take 15 hours, depending on weather.

Earlier, the Italian coastguard said waves in the region were as high as five metres (16ft) and winds were blowing at more than 40 knots (46mph).

Once the ferry arrives in Brindisi, Italian authorities will inspect its interior for any possible other bodies.

Floriana Segreto of the Italian coastguard said a total of 477 people had been rescued from the stricken ferry. That figure, plus the 11 dead, would mean at least 488 people had been on board as it sailed from Greece to Italy.

Greek officials said 474 people were officially on the ferry – leading to questions about Italy’s tally or suggestions that the ferry had also been carrying an unknown number of unregistered migrants.

Italy says it rescued or discovered 170,000 migrants and asylum seekers at sea last year as they tried to slip into Europe.