Dec. 23, 1963 - At least 877 persons who abandoned the fire-wracked cruise ship Lakonia were picked up from the 64-degree waters of the eastern Atlantic today in an international rescue effort. There were 1,022 persons aboard the Greek Line vessel when she caught fire yesterday and had to be abandoned. The ship was 180 miles north of the island of Madeira and 550 miles northwest of Casablanca, Morocco. Late reports from the London offices of the Greek Line said that the 877 persons had been picked up by 5 rescue ships, that 24 bodies had been recovered, and that 135 persons were unaccounted for. The huge rescue operation continued. Many ships had been diverted from their courses and ordered to speed to the scene. British and American aircraft circles over the stricken vessel, dropping flares and life rafts, blankets, lifejackets, and survival kits. A message received today by Lloyd’s, the London insurance underwriters, said the Lakonia was still afloat and on fire. There was a risk of explosion because of 500 tons of fuel oil aboard. The U.S. Air Force, from Orlando, Fla., reported about 100 bodies with lifejackets in the sea. Captain Don Spencer of Comanche, Texas commanded one of the C-54’s that dropped rescue items. He later said: “We could see how the passengers dropped into the water and many others who, in lifeboats, were rowing toward the vessels which rushed to their help. We dropped 19 pneumatic lifeboats capable of holding a total of 148 persons. Some of these who were still struggling in the sea swam desperately towards them. Some others did not move. They might have been dead by the time we reached the spot.” According to reports at 9:45 a.m. New York time, about 100 persons were still aboard the ship. It was not known how many persons had been forced to jump into the sea or how many were able to use lifeboats. A report received by the British Admiralty from Casablanca, where intense preparations were being made to treat survivors, spoke of “many bodies” in the water.
top of page
bottom of page
Comments