All 12 seafarers have been rescued after their cargoship was hit by a fire off Italy
The vessel issued a distress signal on Wednesday 180 miles south-east of Catania, the coast guard said.
Italian media identified the ship as the 2,900-dwt Bellatrix (built 1978), which was heading to Samsun in Turkey.
The master said the blaze in the engine room was no longer controllable.
