250 rescued after Greek ferry on fire, blaze put out

A Greek ferry carrying 250 passengers and crew caught fire in the eastern Aegean Sea on Friday, but the blaze was contained and no injuries were reported. Five people were evacuated and treated for respiratory problems.
The fire broke out in the funnel of the Nissos Mykonos as it was sailing on its first voyage of the summer season between the islands of Ikaria and Samos, the ship’s owner said.
Hellenic Seaways vice-president Antonis Agapitos said 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 a mile off the port of Karlovassi on Samos, and its engines were functioning.
The ship departed earlier from the port of Piraeus and was heading for Samos with stops at the islands of Syros, Mykonos and Ikaria.