4 bodies found at sea area near Italian ferry off Corfu island: Greek Shipping Minister

Four bodies have been found on Monday by rescuers in the sea area off Corfu island near the Italian ferry Norman Atlantic which was adrift since early Sunday after a fire started at the garage, Greek Shipping Minister Militiadis Varvitsiotis said.

In statements made at the parliament in Athens at the sidelines of a vote for the election of the next President of the Hellenic Republic, Varvitsiotis confirmed earlier media reports that the death toll from the incident had increased to five.

A Greek man died on Sunday while attempting to evacuate the ship which had departed from Patras in western Greece and was sailing to Ancona, Italy.

At least 407 people have been rescued so far out of a total of 478 passengers and crew members who were on board the vessel, according to the latest data released by the Greek Coast Guard.

Greek officials noted that it was not clear yet whether the four bodies located on Monday by Italian forces belonged to people who were on board the Norman Atlantic or perhaps to undocumented migrants.

The rescue operation continues in adverse weather conditions.

In remarks to media after the crucial vote in the parliament which resulted inconclusively opening the way for the conduction of early general elections in January, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras expressed deep condolences to the families of the dead and hope that the operation will end soon with no more casualties. Enditem