Heat, smoke hamper search of Norman Atlantic

Firefighters and investigators on Saturday searched part of the Norman Atlantic for victims of a major fire on the ferry, which killed at least 13 people.

However, for a second day running, heat and smoke prevented them from searching the hold and vehicle decks of the ferry, which caught fire in the early hours of last Sunday while traveling from Greece to Italy.

"The temperature in the ship's garage is still very high," the captain of the Italian port of Brindisi, Mario Valente said. He declined to provide an estimate on when investigators may be able to search the cargo and vehicle decks.

Investigators fear they could find more victims in those areas, as Greek authorities have said that as many as 19 passengers of the Norman Atlantic remained unaccounted for, while Italian prosecutor Giuseppe Volpe, put that figure at no more than 15.

Actual number of missing possibly higher

Volpe, who is leading the Italian criminal investigation, has also suggested that some truck drivers may have been sleeping in their vehicles due to a shortage of cabin space. In addition to those on passenger lists, some have suggested that the number of missing could actually be higher, as would-be migrants often try to sneak onto such vessels.

Volpe has placed the captain and the head of the company that built the ferry under investigation for possible charges of negligent homicide, bodily injury and negligence leading to disaster.

His office said on Friday it was also looking into possible charges against four other people, including members of the crew.

Italian officials have said that a total of 477 people have been rescued from the Norman Atlantic.

On Friday, investigators, who are also hoping an examination of the vehicle and cargo decks may find clues to the cause of the blaze, were able to locate the ferry's black box data recorder.

pfd/nm (AP, dpa)