Greece launches probe over ferry tragedy off Corfu

Greece has launched a judicial probe in addition to the investigation carried out by Italian authorities over the circumstances of the Italian ferry tragedy which started on early Sunday off the Greek island of Corfu, Greek Shipping Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said on Tuesday during a press briefing.

At least ten people died in the Norman Atlantic which was eventually towed to Albania, according to the latest official estimate by the Greek side which crosschecks data released by the Italian Coast Guard which was leading the rescue operation that ended on Monday.

A second Greek national was identified among the casualties on Tuesday. The victim was Constantinos Koufopoulos and his body has been transferred to an Italian hospital, the Greek Shipping Ministry said.

There were still conflicting reports however on the total number of people on board the ferry which caught fire during stormy seas, and subsequently on the numbers of survivors and missing persons.

There were 475 passengers and crew members on board according to the Greek company ANEK which had leased it. The Greek Coast Guard counted 432 survivors.

There were 499 people on board, according to the Italian side which said that undocumented migrants have also been discovered among survivors.

Meanwhile, hundreds of undocumented migrants were believed to be on board a cargo ship which issued a distress call while sailing in international waters off Corfu, Greek Coast Guard sources said.

As Varvitsiotis was briefing reporters at Piraeus port, two Greek Coast Guard vessels, a helicopter and a Greek Navy frigate from Corfu were investigating the incident after being notified by Italian authorities.

According to the latest from Greek Coast Guard sources, the captain of the Moldova- flagged Blue Sky Ml which has entered Italian waters in the meantime, in a communication with Greek authorities said that there was no problem.

Greek officials did not confirm or deny information that the ship was carrying 400-700 undocumented migrants neither that there were armed persons on board.

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