The list of dead from the naval tragedy on the Norman Atlantic rises. According to the Italian Coast Guard, two more bodies were found in the ship wreckage, bringing the death toll up to seven in total. Later, another body was discovered and announced, according to the Italian Minister of Defense.
However, the news that two more people were found dead in the sea around the ship, only a while after all crew members were evacuated with the help of rescuers, trigger fears that the number of victims will rise, since the number of civilian and crew member evacuees does not add up to the number (478) in accordance with the passenger list.
According to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and the Italian Navy, the evacuation of those aboard is complete, while the ship was also abandoned – after everyone had left- by the Italian captain, according to Italian media.
From evidence so far, it seems that there are at least 40 missing since only 433 people seem to have been rescued from a total of 478 that “Norman Atlantic” was carrying.
Also, according to the representative of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Nikos Lagadianos, ferry “Cruise Europa” will take the 69 survivors it has on board to the port of Igoumenitsa. According to Mr. Lagadianos, the Italian authorities are drawing rescued passengers lists for safe disembarkation at ports in Patras, Igoumenitsa, and Ancona.
It should be noted that survivors of the Norman Atlantic are located in Bari, Lecce and Corfu. The ship “Spirit of Piraeus”, carrying 49 rescued passengers, including 25 Greeks, docked in Bari.