Tourist Boat Runs Aground off Poros in Greece
Greek authorities evacuate 280 tourists from a ship run aground on Poros island.
March 13, 2008 -- ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Authorities were preparing to evacuate a tourist boat that ran aground Thursday off the coast of Poros, a Saronic Gulf island near Athens.
The boat, with 280 people on board, was taking on water, Poros Mayor Dimitris Stratigos said.
"Thankfully, the weather conditions are good, and there doesn't appear to be any serious problem," Stratigos said.
A rescue helicopter and three Coast Guard vessels were heading the area, while all nearby boats had been alerted and asked to help, said the Merchant Marine Ministry, which coordinates rescue operations at sea.
The boat is one of several that runs day trips between Piraeus and the nearby islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra.
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