UPDATED story:

More than 500 evacuated in ferry fire near Puerto Rico

By Associated Press From Fox News

More than 500 passengers and crew were evacuated on Wednesday from a burning ship about a mile off Puerto Rico’s north coast, and many required medical care, though there were no reported fatalities.

The fire continued to burn aboard the Caribbean Fantasy, a combination cruise and ferry ship, as the U.S. Coast Guard brought passengers into the San Juan harbor while helicopters whirred overheard. Other agencies and even private vessels joined in the effort before firefighters were ordered to abandon the ship.

“The boat’s systems have collapsed. It’s not safe anymore to work inside the boat,” said Angel Crespo, director of Puerto Rico’s Emergency Management Agency.

The Coast Guard said all passengers and crew were evacuated. Federal authorities were interviewing the captain, Crespo added.

The fire apparently had been burning for some time before the alarm was sounded.

Gyno Funes told The Associated Press he was one of two mechanics in the control room when a hose carrying fuel burst open and caught on fire.

“We were trying to extinguish it for two hours, but couldn’t,” said the other mechanic, Marlon Doblado, after the two reached shore.

Dominican passenger Maria Prensa said she was collecting her luggage when she smelled smoke. “I asked and they told me it was nothing, that it was under control,” she said.

Officials with American Cruise Ferries, which operates the ship, did not return messages for comment about the fire.

Crespo said 105 people were treated at the scene, mostly for heat stroke, shock and dehydration, and another 24 remained hospitalized. Among these were three women who dislocated their ankles and a man who broke his leg while going down the emergency slide, he said.

On the docks, several dozen people were carried in on stretchers, one of which held a man hooked to an IV line who was cradling a bawling newborn baby clad only in a diaper.

The injured were followed by a small group of children who held hands as they disembarked the Coast Guard boats.

The mostly Dominican passengers included dozens of school-age athletes headed to competitions in Puerto Rico, including a 22-member cycling team, a girls’ volleyball team and a boys’ baseball team.

Passengers found to be in good health were loaded onto city buses to be taken to the ship’s original destination, where they went through customs.

They included Fiordalise Pitchard, who traveled to Puerto Rico on vacation.

“I feel nervous,” she said, her hands trembling. “I was in the restaurant when I saw the smoke. I’m giving all the glory to the Lord today.”

Anguished relatives of passengers, including Hilda Pereira, pushed their way onto the scene. Her daughter, whom she has not seen for 14 years, was aboard the boat.

Pereira said she was at the beauty salon when her sister called to notify her.

“She said, ‘You need to be strong,'” Pereira said. “The ferry has caught on fire.”

The fire erupted in the engine room and was spreading to the rest of the ship, Miami-based Coast Guard spokeswoman Marilyn Fajardo said by phone.

The ship runs several times weekly between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

IMAGE: Smoke spills from a ferry off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. (AP)

For more on this story go to: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/08/17/more-than-500-evacuated-in-ferry-fire-near-puerto-rico.html

‘Caribbean Fantasy’ ferry fire – More than 500 passengers to abandon ship as blaze breaks out sparking major rescue operation

By Alex Wellman From Daily Mirror UK

Coastguards race to help after reports of “people in the water” came through as fire took hold of the ship

Hundreds of passengers on board a packed ferry are being forced to abandon ship after a blaze broke out on board.

US Coastguards raced to the scene after receiving reports that a huge fire caught hold of a massive ship carrying more than 500 people.

A number of people are feared to be in the water – according to the Coastguard – but it is not yet known if any are injured.

Lifeboats

According to reports, the vessel is a passenger ferry that caught fire just a mile outside San Juan bay in Puerto Rico.

The US Coastguard revealed it was racing to the location to support frantic efforts to rescue those on board.

It is not yet known if anyone has been injured but startling footage from on board shows dozens of worried looking passengers wearing lifejackets while leaning over the side of the boat.

Smaller, rescue boats can be seen circling in the water – ready to take those on board to safety.

The Coastguard tweeted: “Responding to fire on passenger/car ferry vessel approx 1 mile off San Juan, PR. Reported 512 passengers/crew aboard.”

They later added: “USCG & local rescue crews are on scene assisting passengers/crew preparing to abandon ship.

“USCG Station San Juan boat crews on scene for Ferryrescue 1 mile off SanJuan Harbor. Passengers/crew being disembarked.”

Temporary beds have been placed in a row under a small covering, allowing medical staff to treat any injured people.

The fire was seen for miles by locals and holidaymakers

The Caribbean fantasy travels between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Although not a long journey, the ‘cruise’ offers customers a more luxurious journey and lasts between eight and 12 hours.

The ferry has seven levels, three of which are open to the public, 140 private cabins, and 450 seats.

On board, there is also a casino, piano bar, swimming pool, nightclub, and a collection of duty free shops.

The director of the Emergency Management Agency and Disaster Management (PREMA), Angel Crespo, confirmed the fire had broken out and that crews were looking at ways on getting people into the bay safely.

Firefighters posting to social networks [said] the blaze began in the engine room and may have been caused due to mechanical fault.

IMAGES:

@PRPDNoticias/twitterStunned onlookers posted images of the stricken vessel on social media
TwitterFootage from on board the ship showed worried looking passengers in lifejackets
Caribbean Fantasy ferry on fire – Caribbean Fantasy travels between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico
A series of photos showed a makeshift hospital being put up back on dry land.
Others photos showed a number of passengers arriving back in the bay having been picked up by emergency services.
Emergency slides can be seen ticking out of the side of the ferry – leading down to the water and an inflatable life boat.
Puerto Rico Fire dept/twitterPassengers arrive at the dock 6 San Juan. fire in the machine room Carnival Fantasy cruise
Other photos posted to social network show the massive ship, thought to be the Caribbean Fantasy, with black smoke coming out of it.

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/caribbean-fantasy-ferry-fire-more-8650064