The operation to evacuate the total of 478 passengers on board of the vessel built in 2009 and owned by the Greek company Anek Lipes, goes slowly, at a rate of 20 people per hour and using helicopters, noted the Italian Television.

According to medical sources, the injured people were moved to facilities in the Italian cities of Lecce, Brindisi and Bari, which attorney opened and investigation for negligence.

It seemed that the fire began in a bedroom intended to move cars of a vessel with travelers from 29 nationalities including Greeks, Turkish, Syrians, Albanians, Georgians, Germans and Canadians.

The ship, which is stranded at about 44 nautical miles northwest of the Greek island of Corfu, was subjected to an inspection on the 19 in the Greek port of Patras, where a security problem was detected, although apparently this was resolved.

The Italian Ministry of Defense reported that they sent at least four tugs, for after completing the rescue activities of passengers bring the ferry to the City of Bari,  Prensa Latina News Agency reported.

The bad weather conditions, fire and high winds delayed passengers' evacuation.