Ferry to Italy crashes into islet, passengers evacuated safely at Corfu
The Italian-flagged ferry boat "Europalink", which crashed into an islet off Corfu early on Sunday morning but whose passengers were evacuated safely at the port of Corfu, has two large cracks on the side and several smaller ones, Port Authority officials at this Ionian island said.
The ship was doing the Patra-Igoumenitsa-Ancona route, with 692 passengers, a crew of 70 and 306 private cars, when it crashed into the islet of the Peristeres group NE of Corfu for unknown reasons. Passengers were put up in hotels, while authorities will be trying to turn the ship at its moorings to clear it of the cars still inside.
Water is being pumped out while private divers will be conducting more detailed checks on the damage.
The Port of Corfu authorities have banned the ship's leaving until a certificate of safety is issued after repairs. No injuries have been reported as of Sunday afternoon.
