Yesterday the Hellenic Fire Service reported that a second body was found on the Euroferry Olympia after the ship went up in flames Friday off the coast of Corfu.
The body, which was identified as a man’s, was found in the lower garage on the second deck of the ship. The fire department said he was next to a vehicle, and they believe that he didn’t die from fire but instead from suffocation and the high temperatures.
The ship was brought into the port earlier in the day, and at least three tugboats were used to help it dock. The search to find the remaining missing people was able to continue once the ship was in the port.
Searchers were able to conduct a more thorough search, as some parts of the ship were originally inaccessible.
The Greek Shipping Ministry organized for the families of the missing people to be transported from Corfu to be closer to port of Astakos.
The Euroferry Olympia was on its way from Igoumenitsa, Greece, towards Brindisi, Italy carrying over 290 passengers and crew when it caught fire. 153 trucks and 32 cars were also aboard.
Most of the passengers were evacuated immediately, and one truck driver from Belarus was found alive on Sunday. The body of a 58-year-old Greek truck driver was also recovered on Sunday.
The bodies that were found were all in the ship’s car decks. Rescue services also guided two people who said they were trapped in the lower decks.
Nine people are still missing.
The Grimaldi group, who owns the Euroferry Olympia, released a statement Sunday saying that it is against international regulations for people to be in car deck or in their vehicles when the ship is at sea.
An investigation is ongoing to find out the cause of the fire.
