A Turkish national is missing after a fire broke out on a ferry heading from Greece to Italy early Friday.
“We are in contact with the Greek Coast Guard, the hospital, and the Greek police to determine his fate. I hope he is well," said Mustafa Somuncu, Turkey's consul general in Athens.
Temporary passports will be issued to nationals whose passports are missing and all citizens will be transferred to Istanbul, Somuncu added.
Meanwhile, Erdem Kutlu, a Turkish diplomat in the country's consulate general in Athens, said 26 Turkish citizens, including 23 truck drivers and four tourists, were rescued from the ferry and placed in hotels in Corfu.
Some of the rescued citizens are in hospital for medical treatment, he said, adding efforts are underway to evacuate Turkish citizens to Turkey.
The Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia set off from Greece’s western port of Igoumenitsa, heading to the Italian port of Brindisi, a journey of about nine hours.
The fire, the cause of which is yet to be ascertained, erupted near the island of Corfu in the Ionian Sea.
The identification of 278 people was made and they were transported to Corfu Island. At least 11 people, including three Greek citizens, were recorded as missing, according to the latest information from the coast guard.
