A fire broke out on a ferry off Spain’s Balearic Islands on Tuesday, leading to the evacuation of all 156 passengers and crew. The blaze started in the vehicle garage of the Sorrento ferry, operated by Trasmediterranea, while it was en route from Palma de Mallorca to Valencia.
Three crew members suffered smoke inhalation and were rescued by helicopter, according to the Mallorca port authority. The remaining passengers, including a baby, were picked up by another ferry in the area. Spain’s coastguard reported that the ferry captain initially deemed evacuation unnecessary but later ordered the ship to be abandoned due to the fire’s intensity.
The fire began at 1:50 pm, approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Palma de Mallorca. Photos showed thick black smoke rising from the vessel. The coastguard dispatched four ships and a helicopter, while the Guardia Civil also sent a helicopter to assist.
Port authority officials warned that the 186-metre ferry, which can carry up to 1,000 people and 150 vehicles, could sink due to fire damage. The cause of the blaze remains unknown. The ferry is owned by Italy’s Atlantica CSPA di Navigazione and operated by Trasmediterranea, Spain’s largest shipping company.
