Fire Service rescuers in western Greece discovered 6 more bodies on Euroferry Olympia which was severely damaged by a fire en route to Italy last week, thus raising the death toll to 8.
According to authorities, the bodies had been found on the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia on Thursday and Friday during the extensive search of the ship that is anchored off the western port of Astakos. 3 more people, all truck drivers, remain missing.
The February 18 fire broke out after Euroferry Olympia with 292 people onboard sailed out of the northwestern Greek port of Igoumenitsa and headed for Brindisi (Italy). Most were rescued by a nearby Italian customs ship and a Greek coast guard patrol boat which arrived later.
2 men who had been trapped below deck had been rescued by helicopter and a 3rd managed to reach the deck and alert rescuers by himself after being missing for a couple of days.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
The Italian operators of the vessel said the fire had started in a vehicle hold.