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The European emergency telephone number 112 has received another distress signal from a passenger ship. The Greek authorities have received information on the signal from the Italian Coast Guard, where it had been initially sent.

The ship is northwest of the island of Corfu. Two helicopters have set off to it to establish the situation. According to unconfirmed reports, there are about 700 people on board and, assumingly, they are illegal immigrants.

In statements to the Greek Skai TV, head of the port management company in Corfu Spiros Andriotis said that it is the cargo vessel Blue Sky, which is sailing under the flag of the Republic of Moldova.

"There are more than 400 people aboard the ship. Probably they are immigrants, as the vessel is not a passenger ship. It is sailing to the Croatian port of Rijeka. There is evidence that there are armed people among them," he said, adding that he has obtained the information from the port authorities in Corfu.

The Greek military frigate Navarino that is in the region due to the Norman Atlantic disaster has set off to help Blue Sky. According to Andriotis, weather conditions in the region are severe and it is not possible for tugs to sail to the ship in distress.

According to a Skai TV reporter, the signal had not been submitted by the ship but by one of the people aboard through a phone call. He said that the people were many and that their lives were at risk due to a fault in the vessel.

To be continued.