A fire broke out onboard the cruise ship Iberotel Crown Empress on the evening of October 28 near Luxor, Egypt, with 220 passengers onboard.
Authorities confirmed that no fatalities occurred, although the vessel sustained major structural damage.
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Incident Details
The fire started around 6:15 p.m. local time, on the second day of a 12-day Nile cruise that had departed Luxor on October 27.
The ship’s captain diverted the vessel to a nearby informal port in Esna, where the full evacuation of passengers was carried out. Evacuees were transferred to nearby vessels via a temporary gangway.
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Cause and Damage
Preliminary reports suggest the fire began in the galley and quickly spread to other sections of the ship.
The flames engulfed much of the lower deck, including exit routes, complicating the evacuation process.
Crew members and rescuers managed to lead all passengers to the upper deck, from where they were safely evacuated.
Three crew members sustained injuries and were taken to hospital; their condition is not life-threatening.
The blaze destroyed the lobby area, several cabins, and interior sections, and many passengers had to leave their belongings behind.
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Aftermath and Investigation
The Iberotel Crown Empress has been temporarily taken out of service.
An official investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire and assess possible safety violations.
The cruise line stated that it is providing full support to passengers and crew, assisting with recovery and evaluating the extent of the vessel’s damage.
