site.bta Six Bulgarians Rescued from Fire-Hit Italian Ferry

Six Bulgarians Rescued from Fire-Hit Italian Ferry


Sofia, December 29 (BTA) - The number of Bulgarians rescued from
 the fire-hit Italian-flagged car ferry "Norman Atlantic" has
reached six, said the Foreign Ministry's press service Monday.

Two more Bulgarians - V. Dospatliev and A. Assenov - were
rescued from the ferry. The number of rescued Bulgarians so far,
 who are now on board an Italian Navy ship, has reached six -
Galin Haytov, Krassimir Estov, R. Todorova, S. Argirova, V.
Dospatliev and A. Assenov. The Ministry said it will provide
further updates about any changing circumstances and new data.

Earlier in the day the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry reported that
the number of Bulgarians rescued from the fire-hit
Italian-flagged car ferry "Norman Atlantic" increased to four
after two women were added to the list in the morning.

Based on the manifest, nine Bulgarians are presumed to have been
 aboard the ferry which caught fire off the coast of Greece
early Sunday morning while sailing from Patra, Greece, to
Ancona, Italy. The manifest has been received at the Bulgarian
Foreign Ministry from the Greek Foreign Ministry. It is not yet
known how many of those named on the manifest actually boarded
the ferry.

Meanwhile, Greek coast guard service confirmed the death of five
 persons in the ferry fire, the Associated Press reported. The
news agency quoted Greek Coast Guard spokesman Nikos Lagadianos
as saying that four more people were found dead on Monday after
a Greek citizen was reported killed on Sunday. Of the 478
passengers and crew on board the ferry, 391 have been rescued so
 far, the Associated Press said.