A fire broke out on the car deck of a Greek ferry traveling from the city of Igoumenitsa, northern Greece, to the Italian city of Brindisi on Feb. 18, killing at least one person and injuring five others. Ten people were still missing at press time. The Greek coast guard rescued 277 passengers and crew. The fire continued for three days despite efforts to put it out. Investigations into the cause were ongoing.
On the river Sugandha in Bangladesh, a ferry traveling south from the capital, Dhaka, to the town of Barguna caught fire on Dec. 24, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 100 others. The ferry was carrying 500 passengers at the time.
Investigators believe the fire spread from the engine room, while the ship’s owner stated that the fire started in a guest room before spreading to the engine. At press time, the cause of the fire had not been determined.
Two bombs attached to a military transport bus exploded in Damascus, Syria, on Oct. 20, killing 14 people. It was the deadliest attack in the city since 2017. No group claimed responsibility for the bomb, but Daesh (ISIL) is suspected.
On a birding trip to the Dominican Republic in March 2021 (Sept. ’21, pg. 14), the only problem I had was with a taxi ride that I had arranged from the airport to my hotel upon arriving in Santo Domingo.
Dear Globetrotter:
This month’s winner is SONIA IBANEZ of Rego Park, New York:
Some time ago, my partner and I visited the Dominican Republic. Our resort by the beach was about 30 minutes from the capital, Santo Domingo.
In Mexico City on May 3, an overpass on the city’s metro system collapsed as a train crossed, causing two train cars to fall onto the roadway below. At least 23 people were killed and 65 were injured, both on the train and on the road. Investigators believe that an iron girder under the overpass, which is less than a decade old, gave way, leading to the collapse.
Designed for ease of access by passengers with limited mobility, a new ship in the Tokai Kisen fleet, the Salvia-Maru, began passenger service between Tokyo and the Izu Islands of Japan in June 2020. Salvia-Maru makes one 12-hour voyage from Tokyo Harbor to Kozushima island each day, stopping at Toshima, Niijima and Shikinejima islands along the way.
Tickets can be purchased for reclining seats, shared cabins or a private cabin for two. ¥6,030-¥16,890 (near $57-$160) per person, one way. All toilets are shared. A restaurant is on board.
