Burning yacht near Antipaxos sinks
yacht
09 Aug 2022
/ 13:47
PAXOS. The seven Italians on board were taken to Gaios and are safe and well.
The yacht sailing under an Italian flag which caught fire this morning, for as yet unknown reasons, northeast of Antipaxos has now sunk. The fire spread rapidly and the nearby area was filled with smoke.
Two coastguard vessels and a firefighting vessel from Igoumenitsa fought to extinguish the fire. They managed to put it out but the hulk sank.
The Coastguard press officer Nikos Kokkalas told ERT that in order to prevent pollution of the sea private boats came to the spot and spread absorbent materials. However, as it is a small vessel the fuel capacity is no more than 200 litres.
The fire broke out at 08:40 and according to eye witnesses, all those on board left by themselves and headed for the nearest vessel, using the boat's dinghy. All seven Italian nationals who were on board were taken to Gaios and are safe and well. An investigation is being conducted.
Two coastguard vessels and a firefighting vessel from Igoumenitsa fought to extinguish the fire. They managed to put it out but the hulk sank.
The Coastguard press officer Nikos Kokkalas told ERT that in order to prevent pollution of the sea private boats came to the spot and spread absorbent materials. However, as it is a small vessel the fuel capacity is no more than 200 litres.
The fire broke out at 08:40 and according to eye witnesses, all those on board left by themselves and headed for the nearest vessel, using the boat's dinghy. All seven Italian nationals who were on board were taken to Gaios and are safe and well. An investigation is being conducted.
