Abandon ship! Hundreds evacuated, 4 injured during cruise ship fire off Puerto Rico (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
More than 500 passengers and crew were evacuated from the Caribbean Fantasy cruise ship after it caught fire off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
#PuertoRico: una sala de emergencia en tierra atiende 2 mujeres, 1 hombre y 1 niño que sufrieron heridas en el ferry Caribbean Fantasy.
— Univision Noticias (@UniNoticias) August 17, 2016
Univision reports two women, a man, and one child were injured.
En serio ? pic.twitter.com/ulNkfywzaO
— Pj (@pjpedrojuan) August 17, 2016
Evacuación en progreso #CaribbeanFantasy#fuego#puertorico@elcircodelamega@NoticentroWAPApic.twitter.com/VlGbYLaCJP
— Simara Torres (@simaralynn) August 17, 2016
The US Coast Guard is leading the effort after the vessel’s engine room caught fire Wednesday about a mile from shore.
#BreakingNews@USCG & local rescue crews are on scene assisting passengers/crew preparing to abandon ship. #Ferryrescue#SanJuan
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 17, 2016
#BreakingNews@USCG Station San Juan boat crews on scene for #Ferryrescue 1 mile off #SanJuan Harbor. Passengers/crew being disembarked.
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 17, 2016
A total of 512 passengers and staff were on board the ferry at the time and a number of lifeboats have been sent to transport the passengers from the boat to land.
Ferry de Santo Domingo en fuego, en la bahía de san juan mas de 550 pasajeros salen del mismo pic.twitter.com/hWqQzdobC6
— DJ Kilin (@franklinfontan) August 17, 2016
Pasajeros arribaran en el muelle 6 de San Juan. fuego en el cuarto de maquina del crucero Carnaval Fantásy. pic.twitter.com/TSGTMeJFgj
— Bomberos Puerto Rico (@BomberosELAPR) August 17, 2016
AHORA: Agentes de FURA atienden emergencia en crucero American CruIse Ferries en costas de SJ pic.twitter.com/ctVLncGL95
— Policía Puerto Rico (@PRPDNoticias) August 17, 2016
Plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the vessel as emergency services dealt with the mass movement of people.
#ferryfirepic.twitter.com/jml1hJc48S
— Mike Sokol (@Mike_Sokol) August 17, 2016
Reportan “Fuego" en el Ferry ruta #SantoDomingo#PuertoRico dicen que el Barco está Próximo al Muelle de San Juan pic.twitter.com/JEIBpehc6D
— Félix (@fsvtelemin) August 17, 2016
A makeshift hospital has been set up to deal with any potential medical problems.
Improvisan hospital en muelle 6.Se desconoce cantidad heridos y si hay muertos.@TelenoticiasPRpic.twitter.com/kMlrBDP0YA
— Jose Esteves (@jestevesT2) August 17, 2016
Se preparen recibir Heridos SJ.Hay 500 pasajeros y tripulantes en el ferry.Fuego esta activo.@TelenoticiasPRpic.twitter.com/VTsAWhr0dN
— Jose Esteves (@jestevesT2) August 17, 2016
The ship usually ferries tourists between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
AP reports that the liner has now docked safely in Puerto Rico.
