Moments of terror off the coast of Fethiye, one of the busiest tourist resorts on the southwestern coast of Turkey, where a boat used for day trips caught fire with 115 people on board, including several children.
The fire broke out around 11 am today, Thursday 13 August, while the boat was in the Katrancı bay area, in Muğla province.
According to initial reconstructions, the flames started from the galley area for reasons yet to be ascertained and then quickly spread to the rest of the boat.
The passengers throw themselves into the sea
When the fire began to envelop the boat, the people on board had no choice but to put on their life jackets and jump into the water. Among them there were also children.
The Turkish Coast Guard, maritime safety teams and health workers intervened on site. Other boats that were in the area also participated in the rescue operations and reached the people who ended up in the sea. All occupants were recovered.
According to the latest updates reported by the Turkish media, two people who were intoxicated by smoking were taken to hospital, while some children underwent medical checks as a precaution. There were no victims.
The boat destroyed by flames
The fire caused very serious damage to the vessel, which was almost completely engulfed in flames. The first information released during the rescue operations indicated that the boat had also started to take on water and was in danger of sinking.
Once the fire was extinguished, operations began to secure what remained of the vessel. The Turkish authorities have opened an investigation to establish what caused the fire in the kitchen and verify the safety conditions on board.