Access to All Areas of 'Norman Atlantic' Impossible, Third Greek Citizen Confirmed Dead

Fire rings that have not been extinguished are still burning on board of the fire-stricken ferry boat “Norman Atlantic” and specifically in its garage. This prevented the Italian experts and prosecutors from getting on board and enter its burned areas while there are fears that more dead passengers who have been trapped in their attempt to escape the flames will be found.

Yesterday, the Italian prosecutor of Bari, Ettore Cardinali, stayed on board for nearly five hours, with police, coast guard and fire fighters. “We are still at an early stage,” he declared to Italian media, explaining that high temperatures do not allow access to all areas of “Norman Atlantic.” On board the ferry got also three members of the special committee set up by Rome’s Transport Ministry, who will undertake a detailed research regarding the cause of the maritime tragedy.

If determined that there are no major health risks for those researching the ferry, access to it will be granted, although, as Cardinali underlined, this might take several days.

Furthermore, the relatives of the nine missing Greek passengers of “Norman Atlantic” arrived in Italy. With the assistance of the Greek Embassy of Rome they came in contact with the prefectures of Bari, Brindisi and Lecce, the authorities of which assured them that no Greek citizen is still being hospitalized. Later, it is possible that the relatives will be allowed to approach the ferry boat that is currently located at the port of Brindisi, although access on it is denied.

In addition, Cardinali was not among the team who went aboard the “Norman Atlantic” earlier today but told representatives of the Greek embassy of Rome that he will ask the help of Greek authorities in order to shed some light in the cause of the tragic incident and find who is responsible.

Finally, according to the Greek Maritime Ministry, a third Greek citizen has been identified as dead. As the Greek Embassy in Rome said, the name of the third confirmed Greek casualty is Gerasimos Kazantzidis.