Passengers Plead To Be Saved From Burning Ferry

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The mother of a British man trapped with hundreds of people on the top deck of a burning ship in the Adriatic Sea has told of her fears.

Dotty Channing-Williams said she has spoken to her son Nicholas, who was one of two Britons aboard the Norman Atlantic, but the phone call cut off.

The ship caught fire just after 6am local time about 35 miles north of Corfu, close to the Albanian city of Vlora, while it was travelling from Patras, Greece, to Ancona in Italy with 478 on board.

Ms Channing Williams told Sky News: "People in Greece are saying that their communications have been cut off, so as not to hamper rescue operations which I can fully understand."

"They're keeping me updated via the news coming over the Greek television. But nevertheless it is very, very worrying and very scary.

"So I just hope that they will be able to get everybody off there as soon as possible."

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Gallery: Photos Of Ferry On Fire

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A life raft from the ship

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Some passengers called Greek TV stations in desperation as they huddled on top of the Norman Atlantic while the ship was battered by gales.

Several hundred are thought to be exposed to a raging storm and billowing smoke, while a blaze burns and explosions are heard below.

Attempts to pluck off those on board in pairs by helicopter have proved difficult with two falling from an escape chute into the water where they were left struggling against the six metre waves.

About 115 passengers have been rescued with most being taken to ships nearby but dozens are thought to still be stranded at sea in life boats.

Greek and Albanian authorities, using planes and at least five helicopters, are taking part in the rescue operation which is being led by the Italians.

The heat from the fire is said to be so intense it was melting the shoes of those who were not on the top decks.

One passenger who called Greek TV said: "They tried to lower some boats, but not all of us could get in. There is no coordination. It's dark, the bottom of the vessel is on fire. We are trying to save ourselves."

Another, quoted by Greek newspaper The Daily, appealed for help saying: "We urgently need help. We cannot leave the ship. There are boats but we are trapped."

Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Greece's Merchant Marine Minister, said several ships are in the area, the closest of which is the cruise ship Europa, which is leading the rescue operation.

He said: "We are doing everything we can to save those on board and no one, no one will be left helpless in this tough situation."

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Twitter he is talking to his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras about the rescue effort.

The ship is owned by the Italian company VISEMAR de Navigazione and chartered to Greek ferry firm ANEK Lines SA. It runs on a route which in the summer is popular with tourists heading to the southern Greek mainland.

Further north, a Turkish-registered merchant ship sank in the northern Adriatic Sea off the Italian port of Ravenna on Sunday following a collision with another vessel in rough seas. One died and five crew members are unaccounted for.

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