An America Cruise Ferries cruise ferry combination ship had to evacuate 500 plus passengers due to a fire that started in the ship’s control room and was unable to be put out by ship personnel. According to reports a hose carrying fuel burst open and caught fire. The fire was eventually extinguished but the boat system’s collapsed and the ship was rendered unsafe requiring the evacuation of all passengers and crew members.

Although no fatalities or major injuries were reported, 24 people were hospitalized and many were treated at the scene for heat stroke and dehydration. The Caribbean Fantasy was traveling from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic carrying mostly Dominican passengers. Among the passengers were a 22 member cycling team, a girls’ volleyball team and a boys’ baseball team.

The ship has been safely docked at San Juan’s harbor in Puerto Rico.

Sources and Photo Credit:

Photo: Carlos Giusti/Associated Press
Cruise-Ship Fire Near Puerto Rico Spurs U.S. Coast Guard to Evacuate Passengers, The Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2016.

More than 500 Evacuated Burning Ferry Off Puerto Rico, Independent, August 17, 2016.