Fire inside the “Eleftherios Venizelos” car ferry now under control, says deputy shipping minister (video)
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The situation on board the passenger/car ferry “Eleftherios Venizelos” – where a fire has been burning in the vehicle days for the past three days – appeared to be back under control, Deputy Shipping Minister Nektarios Santorinios said on Friday.
In statements as he exited parliament following a meeting of the cabinet, the minister said he had contacted the head of the coast guard, who reassured him that the situation was under control and would be heading to Piraeus after the cabinet meeting.
He explained that a seven-degree list developed by the ferry on Friday morning caused by shift in the distribution of water used to put out the fires on board the vessel, which was gradually returning to an upright position after the excess water was pumped out.
Fire fighters were also making progress in their efforts to put out the small fires still burning in the vehicle decks on Friday morning, while the amount of smoke was greatly reduced.
The list was caused by the unloading of some vehicles from the vehicle decks.
The fire broke out on Tuesday night after the ship set sail from Piraeus, possibly due to a short-circuit in one of the vehicles on board. There were 80 trucks and 152 smaller vehicles on the vehicle deck, most of which have now been taken off though some have been seriously damaged. All passengers were evacuated to safety without injury.
Source: AMNA