Georgian Priest Reported Dead After Greek Ferry Fire

A Georgian priest has reportedly been confirmed dead after going missing when a Greek ferry caught fire in the Adriatic Sea.

Georgian media reports on December 31 said the body of Ilia Kartozia had been recovered from the sea and brought to the Italian port of Brindisi.

Reports said Kartozia headed a Georgian Orthodox monastery in the eastern city of Mtskheta.

Seven other Georgians were rescued from the "Norman Atlantic," a large car ferry that was headed from Greece to Italy when the fire broke out on December 28.

The Italian navy said on December 30 that 11 people were confirmed dead and 427 had been rescued.

The ship's manifest had 478 names on it, but it was unclear how many people remained missing because of questions about the accuracy of that figure.

With reporting by civil.ge, Reuters, AFP and dpa