Greek ferry carrying 250 people on fire; blaze 'under control'

A fire broke out today on a Greek ferry carrying about 250 people in the eastern Aegean Sea, but authorities said no injuries were reported and that the blaze was contained.

The fire broke out in the funnel of the Nissos Mykonos as it was sailing between the islands of Ikaria and Samos, the ship’s owner said.

Hellenic Seaways vice-president Antonis Agapitossaid all passengers were in good health.

“The fire is under control, and appears to be more or less out,” he said. “When the captain judges that there is no danger he will enter port and disembark the passengers. There is no issue of evacuating the vessel.”

He said the vessel was one mile off the port of Karlovassi on Samos, and its engines were functioning.

The ship departed earlier from the port of Piraeus, Greece’s biggest, and was heading for Samos with stops at the islands of Syros, Mykonos and Ikaria.