Rescuers in western Greece have discovered six more bodies on a ferry severely damaged by a fire en route to Italy last week, raising the death toll to eight.

Authorities said the bodies were found on the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia during an extensive search of the vessel that is currently anchored off the western port of Astakos.

Three more people, all believed to be truck drivers, remain missing.

The February 18 fire broke out after the ferry with 292 people on board sailed out of the north-western Greek port of Igoumenitsa, headed for Brindisi, Italy.

Most were rescued by a nearby Italian customs vessel and a Greek coast guard patrol boat that arrived later.

Two men who had been trapped below deck were rescued by helicopter and a third managed to reach the deck and alert rescuers by himself after being missing for two days.

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated. The vessel’s Italian operators said it started in a vehicle hold.