Turkish news agency Anadolu has reported that a sightseeing vessel caught fire while in the Aegean Sea off southwestern Turkey on Thursday, August 13.
The sightseeing vessel Imparator Atila was underway off the port city of Fethiye in Mugla province with 115 passengers and crew when a blaze ignited on board at around 11:00 local time on Thursday.
Rescue boats from the Turkish Coast Guard Command, the Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety, and local police deployed immediately to the area to render assistance after receiving alerts about the incident. A number of Good Samaritan boats also diverted to aid in the evacuation effort.
All who were on board the sightseeing vessel were safely transported to shore. Eleven people were brought to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and have since been discharged.
Local media said that many of those who were rescued had donned lifejackets and jumped into the sea to avoid being consumed by flames.
Many of the passengers were young children as the vessel had regularly been used as a floating children's entertainment venue in addition to sailing on sightseeing excursions.
The fire on Imparator Atila was later extinguished. However, officials said the resulting damage has rendered the vessel unsuitable to resume operations.
A report by CNN's local affiliate stated that the blaze had originated in the galley and quickly spread to the rest of the vessel.
An investigation into the incident is already underway.
