After hours of waiting, passengers are finally airlifted off of the Italian ferry which caught fire in the early hours of Sunday.

The Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic went adrift in the Adriatic Sea with 478 people on board.

The Greek coast guard says that 221 people are brought to safety so far, but more than 250 are still awaiting rescue.

Officials say that the fire on board has been tamed, but rescue operations remain extremely difficult because of rough seas and strong winds.