Italian prosecutor says Illegal migrants on burning ferry
- 9 years ago
Italian Prosecutor Giuseppe Volpe says illegal migrants were among the hundreds of people trapped on a burning Italian ferry off the Greek coast.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN BARI PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, GIUSEPPE VOLPE, SAYING:
"It is has been confirmed that there were illegal migrants on the ferry, probably in the hold. Our fear is that once the wreck has been recovered we will find those who have died."
The number of those on board has been murky, with dozens of passengers unaccounted for.
It's unclear if they drowned, or had even been on board in the first place.
Italian officials say at least 11 people died in the fire.
Two Albanian crew members on a tugboat also died when their cable attached to the burning wreck snapped and hit them during salvage operations.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN BARI PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, GIUSEPPE VOLPE, SAYING:
"It is has been confirmed that there were illegal migrants on the ferry, probably in the hold. Our fear is that once the wreck has been recovered we will find those who have died."
The number of those on board has been murky, with dozens of passengers unaccounted for.
It's unclear if they drowned, or had even been on board in the first place.
Italian officials say at least 11 people died in the fire.
Two Albanian crew members on a tugboat also died when their cable attached to the burning wreck snapped and hit them during salvage operations.