Protothema.gr has acquired the exclusive underwater footage that shows the hull breach in the Italian-flagged ferry boat “Europalink”, which crashed into an islet off Corfu early on Sunday morning.

The ship was doing the Patra-Igoumenitsa-Ancona route, with 693 passengers, a crew of 70 and 366 cars, when it crashed into the islet of the Peristeres group, northeast of Corfu for reasons that haven’t yet been determined. The ship suffered two large cracks from the crash but, thankfully, its passengers were safely evacuated.

It should be noted that the arrested captain and the second in command of the ferry boat “Europalink” were released after appearing before the Corfu prosecutor. The two officers face charges of running the ship aground by negligence and of putting the passengers at risk.

The Port of Corfu authorities have banned the ship’s leaving until a certificate of safety is issued after repairs are completed.