PASSENGERS EVACUATED IN FERRY FIRE

Posted on 08/19/2016 | About Puerto Rico

On Wednesday, a fire broke out in the engine room of the Caribbean Fantasy ferry as it sailed from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The fire spread to the rest of the ship at which point a full evacuation was carried out, affecting 512 passengers and 26 crewmembers, some of whom sustained injuries.

At 7:15 am, an hour out of San Juan it was reported that two mechanics were in the control room when a hose carrying fuel burst open and caught fire. The fire spread quickly.
The US Coast Guard responded and safely evacuated all passengers as well as seven pets, where they were taken to San Juan harbour.
Two dozen passengers were treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation, dehydration, high blood pressure and respiratory problems. Four people suffered broken bones in the panic to escape on the emergency slide. Among the injured are four children between the ages of five and six.
It was reported that a man on a stretcher, hooked up to IV was carrying a newborn baby.
Among the passengers were a number of youth, heading to athletic competitions in Puerto Rico.
The ship is owned by American Cruise Ferries and has a history of poor hygiene ratings by Centers for Disease Control. A ProPublica investigation reported that a January 2015 inspection stated that oil fuel lines should be screened or protected in some way to avoid any spray or leakage onto ignition sources.
Officials with Puerto Rico’s Natural Resources Department said that as a precaution, they removed two large manatees from the area that had been recently released into the wild. They were also concerned about dozens of nearby turtle nests that might be exposed to any oil spills.