Ferry runs aground in Aegean Sea off Greece

Local authorities in Greece have reported that a ferry ran aground in the Aegean Sea off Evia Island on Tuesday, August 5.

The incident involving the Ro-Pax ferry Panagia Paravouniotissa occurred in the Gulf of Euboea at around 18:50 local time, approximately 30 minutes after it left the Port of Nea Styra on Evia with 105 passengers and nine crewmembers.

The Hellenic Coast Guard and the crews of some Good Samaritan boats later arrived in the area to render assistance to the people on the grounded ferry.

The ferry's occupants have since been safely evacuated and brought to Nea Styra. Coast guard officials said that the incident did not result in injuries or pollution.

Local prosecutors have launched an investigation after determining that the ferry's captain had violated protocol by failing to inform the authorities about the grounding immediately after it occurred.

The coast guard said repeated attempts had been made to contact the captain via radio, but the latter did not respond until 19:01, by which time more than ten minutes had already elapsed after the ferry ran aground.

On Wednesday, August 6, the coast guard said that prosecutors have been informed that the ferry's owner had not yet drafted a salvage plan or assigned an external company to submit such a plan for approval even though more than 14 hours had passed since the incident.