CHRONOLOGICAL NEWS COVERAGE: GREEK FERRY BURNING- AIR SEA RESCUE UNDERWAY 9/28/2014-9/31/2014

A GREEK FERRY OPERATING BETWEEN GREECE AND ITALY IS BURNING :

12/28/2014 1430 CST

 Rescue Boats Have removed many of the passengers, some escaped via life boat and Helicopters are evacuating many now. It is thought that the original passenger count was about 476 passengers. At last count 131 were clear of the danger zone by boat evacuation about 150 are clear of the ship in a near by life boat. Helicopters are removing passengers in relay fashion to a nearby ship. Rescue is hampered by high winds, seas, and cold temperatures. More details: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-28/rescuers-try-to-evacuate-hundreds-from-burning-italian-ferry/5990666

UPDATE 12/28/2014 

1 Confirmed dead , Hundreds stranded as rescuers face a rough night: http://www.aol.com/article/2014/12/28/greece-fire-breaks-out-on-ferry-in-choppy-seas/21121772/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl7%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D590131

UPDATE; 12/29/2014: 0950 CST: This morning, the number of people still waiting to the rescued was reduced from 120 to 83. However, the area is being hit by gale force 8 winds and the ship is emitting vast amounts of smoke, hindering rescue efforts. http://www.ihsmaritime360.com/article/15957/norman-atlantic-ferry-rescue-continues?utm_content=buffer23342&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

UPDATE: 12/30/2014 0930 CST: Possibly as many as 40 passengers still unaccounted for: http://www.thepressproject.net/article/70895/Survivors-give-hellish-account-of-ferry-tragedy

UPDATE 12/31/2014 1130CST  All passengers off Adriatic ferry; investigation begins

"In the end, at least 10 people died, the Italian coast guardsaid on Monday. .... Dramatic cell phone images filmed by a passenger showed flames through shattered portholes, ..."