/ 27 September 2000

36 DIE IN GREEK FERRY DISASTER

AT least 36 people have died, and 44 are missing, after a Greek ferry with 511 people aboard ran aground and sank off the Aegean island of Paros. A port official also suffered a heart attack and died after hearing news of the sinking, the coast guard said. CNN reported that rescue teams are heading to a cluster of barren islands near the site of the tragedy and an inquest is under way to determine the cause of the accident. Most of the passengers were people who lived in the area, but authorities are looking into reports that a group of Australian tourists were also board, she said. Local media said the ferry suffered a power blackout after running aground and many panic-stricken passengers had jumped into the sea as the ship listed shortly afterwards.