SANTORINI, Greece - Rescue teams are still searching for two people, a 45 year-old Frenchman and his 16-year-old daughter, passengers of Sea Diamond cruiser, which struck a reef half a mile off the Aegean island of Santorini and started listing till it finally sank at 06:00 Friday morning. According to an announcement of the Merchant Marine Ministry, divers and the coast guard are participating in the rescue efforts.

The mother and wife of the two missing notified the authorities about her beloved ones after the ship had been evacuated and after she and her son boarded a ship that transferred them to Piraeus.

The French woman said that after the collision, their cabin flooded with water and had to try hard to open the door. She added that she had to dive into the water to escape death, but it seems that her husband Jean-Christophe Allain and her daughter Maud were not successful with their efforts.

Local television reported that "Aegean 2" ship carrying the first 296 passengers and 38 crew members arrived in Piraeus Friday morning. Tourism Minister Fani Palli Petralia was there to welcome them.

The rest of the 1,040 passengers and crew members, who were transferred by the cruise ship Perla and arrived in Piraeus later Friday.


Capt., 5 officers charged in Greek cruise ship accident