Further 2 rescued from Mediterranean ferry fire, 11 missing

(Update 1: Adds information)

Athens, Feb 18 (EFE).- Rescue teams successfully evacuated two men who became trapped on a ferry that caught fire on Friday near the Greek island of Corfu while efforts to locate 11 missing people continued, fire fighters said.

A total of 280 passengers and crew members were successfully rescued from the vessel shortly after flames broke out as it began its journey from the Greek port of Igoumenitsa to Brindisi in Italy.

The two men, a Bulgarian national and a Turkish national, became trapped on the vehicle deck of the ferry but were able to communicate with emergency services via cell phones.

Four or five people may still be onboard the stricken ferry, Greek ERT TV said in unconfirmed reports.

A total of 291 people were traveling on the ferry, including one stowaway.

Among the missing are seven Bulgarian nationals, three Greeks and a Lithuanian.

The rescued passengers and crew were taken to the island of Corfu.

The ferry was run by Italian company Grimaldi Lines.EFE

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