Cruise ship with 100 on board goes up in flames off Turkey's Aegean coast

AYVALIK - Anatolia News Agency

DHA photo

A cruise ship transporting 100 passengers was reduced to ashes after a fire ravaged the vessel off Turkey's Aegean coast today.
 
The Didim Mavisi, which conducts tours of the Aegean islands, departed from the Aegean district of Ayvalık today, but a fire soon broke out in the boat's galley section as it cruised near the coast of Sarımsaklı. The fire quickly spread as the captain directed the vessel to a nearby cove. 
 
All passengers and crew were safely evacuated as other boats came to the distressed vessel's aid. Some passengers jumped from the deck and swam ashore. 
 
The boat was damaged beyond use before the flames could be doused in a joint effort between the ship's crew and rescue teams from the Turkish coast guard.