4 more under investigation in Greek ferry fire

Norman Atlantic ferry captain Argilio Giacomazzi talks with journalists outside his home in Campiglia, near La Spezia, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. The Italian captain of the Italian-made ferry, which was operated by a Greek company, was questioned in the southern port of Bari by prosecutors for more than five hours Wednesday. Stormy weather in the Adriatic Sea thwarted efforts Wednesday to tow the fire-ravaged ferry to Italy so authorities can investigate the blaze that killed at least 11 people and search the ship for more possible dead. (AP Photo/Ansa/Riccardo Dalle Luche) Norman Atlantic ferry captain Argilio Giacomazzi talks with journalists outside his home in Campiglia, near La Spezia, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. The Italian captain of the Italian-made ferry, which was operated by a Greek company, was questioned in the southern port of Bari by prosecutors for more than five hours Wednesday. Stormy weather in the Adriatic Sea thwarted efforts Wednesday to tow the fire-ravaged ferry to Italy so authorities can investigate the blaze that killed at least 11 people and search the ship for more possible dead. (AP Photo/Ansa/Riccardo Dalle Luche)

By Associated Press January 2, 2015 2 min read

BRINDISI, Italy (AP) – Firefighters boarded the charred Norman Atlantic ferry in the Italian port of Brindisi on Friday to put out residual fires and allow a search for possible dead.

A blaze broke out aboard the ferry on Sunday as it was traveling from Greece to Italy, killing at least 11 people. Italy says 477 people were rescued, most by helicopters that plucked survivors off the top deck in gale-force winds and carried them to nearby boats.

The probe into the disaster widened Friday. In addition to the ship’s captain and the head of the company that built the ferry – both Italians – the prosecutor’s office in Bari put two other crew members and two representatives of the Greek ferry line Anek, which rented the Norman Atlantic, under investigation, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Towing the ferry overnight across the choppy seas of the Adriatic took 17 hours.

Several hours after the Norman Atlantic arrived in Brindisi port on Friday, a second tug was tied to the ferry to help stabilize it both front and back.