SHIP HITS MINE OFF GREECE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25088, 21 January 1947, Page 7

SHIP HITS MINE OFF GREECE

Hundreds Reported Killed 200 LANDED OUT OF 680 (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 19. About 300 passengers are reported to have been killed when the passenger ship Heimera struck a mine in Greek coastal waters to-day, says Reuter’s correspondent in Athens. The Heimera, a former German hospital ship, of 1221 tons, was bound for Piraeus with 612 persons, passengers, and crew, on board. The correspondent of the Associated Press gives the total casualties as 400. It is officially stated in Athens that about 200 survivors have bpen brought ashore.

The Heimera, which struck a mine in the channel separating Attica Province. and Euboea, about two miles off Rafina and 15 miles east of Athens, sank in 20 minutes. The explosion occurred early to-day, but the Greek Government was only aware of it when the crew of a caique, which assisted in rescue operations, reached Piraeus.

The explosion blew off the bow, the electric light failed, and the -steamer began listing heavily. No SOS was sent out as the wireless was put out of action. The master of the caique reported that the vessel sank, leaving a of corpses and a mass of debris floating on the water. Destroyers and other salvage vessels left for the acene. Thirty-eight survivors of the Heimera have so far arrived in Athens. Seven of them, who were seriously injured, have been admitted to hospital. Some passengers, including two girls, swam ashore. Survivors said that the Heimera .sailed from Salonika yesterday morning with 450 passengers, 150 soldiers, and a complement of 80. Among the passengers were members of the party which accompanied Prince Paul of Greece on a tour of northern Greece, and several Macedonian deputies. High Sea Running The rescuers are working in extremely difficult conditions. A high sea is running and it is feared that other mines may be drifting in the area of the The Athens correspondent of the Associated Press quotes survivors as saying that the passengers were packed like sardines. There were screams of terror as they tried, in moonless darkness, to force their way to the decks. The Heimera lurched and then listed acutely before sinking. Many of the passengers jumped overboard. The wireless operator said: “There was hellish disorder.” He, with the captain, and the first and second mates, were the last to leave the ship. They all swam for several hours before they got hold of some barrels which saved their lives. The operator said that in the mad scramble at least one lifeboat was swamped and its occupants were all drowned. He estimated that there were 200 women and children among the passengers.

Reuter’s correspondent says that the Greek destroyer Miaoilis, four landing craft, a corvette, and aeroplanes are searching the area. The Heimera was proceeding in a swept channel. It is believed that the gale detached the mine from a German minefield.

Survivors said that among those aboard when the ship went down were 40 captured guerrillas, who were in chains in the ship’s hold.