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Wednesday, August 29, 2018, 17:21
Greek ferry fire sends smoke billowing, but all aboard safe
By Associated Press
Wednesday, August 29, 2018, 17:21 By Associated Press

A firefighting vessel throws water as smoke rises from the Eleftherios Venizelos ship at the port of Piraeus, near Athen, Aug 29 2018. (PETROS GIANNAKOURIS / AP)

ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities say 875 passengers safely disembarked from a ferry after a fire broke out early Wednesday as it sailed to the island of Crete from the mainland.

Passengers spent hours on the deck wearing life vests, and disembarked using mobile safety stairs from a side entrance of the ship

The fire on the Eleftherios Venizelos ferry started in the parking bay and was contained after activating an automatic extinguishing mechanism. Still, it left smoke billowing out of the ship as it returned to the port of Piraeus, near Athens.

Passengers spent hours on the deck wearing life vests, and disembarked using mobile safety stairs from a side entrance of the ship.

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Smoke rises as passengers stand at the top of the deck of Eleftherios Venizelos ship at the port of Piraeus, near Athen, Aug 29 2018. (PETROS GIANNAKOURIS / AP)

"It is a difficult situation, because we are dealing with a large vessel," Fire Service official Yiannis Stamoulis said.

He described the firefighting effort as ongoing.

The Merchant Marine Ministry and Greek ferry operator ANEK said all 141 crew members on board were also unharmed.

The fire broke out as the ferry passed the tiny island of Agios Giorgos, 70 kilometers southeast of Piraeus, and was ordered to return.

Passengers from the Eleftherios Venizelos ship are transferred by a bus to another terminal at the port of Piraeus , near Athens on, Aug 29, 2018. (PETROS GIANNAKOURIS / AP)

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More than 35 million passengers used ferry services in Greece last year, mostly from mainland ports to islands — an increase of 7.4 percent from 2016 as tourism continues to grow.

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