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29th Dec 2014

Death Toll Rises To Ten As Evacuation Of Italian Ferry Ends

Over 400 people were rescued.

Cathy Donohue

After a fire on the Norman Atlantic ferry off the coast of Corfu, the death toll has risen to ten.

One man was killed while trying to escape the ship and nine other bodies were also found.

More than 400 people were rescued from the remains of the ferry in gale force winds and thick smoke.

The cause of the fire which broke out on the car deck yesterday has not yet been established.

The ferry had been travelling from the Greek city of Patras to Ancona in Italy and the company operating the journey said a total of 478 people had been on the ship when it left Patras.

Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi said that only 427 people had been accounted for at this stage.

He went on to say that it was the responsibility of the port of departure to verify the correct number of passengers.