A fire aboard a CroisiEurope river cruise vessel prompted the evacuation of more than 130 passengers while the ship was alongside in the Port of Honfleur, Normandy, during the early hours of June 29th. Emergency services responded after the blaze was reported at ~03:30 local time, with firefighting operations continuing well into the morning as authorities worked to bring the incident under control.
The vessel, identified as MS Botticelli, was carrying 132 passengers and a crew of 31 while operating a Seine River itinerary between Paris and Normandy. According to CroisiEurope, the fire originated in the ship's galley. In accordance with established emergency procedures, all passengers and crew were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.
Following the evacuation, passengers were accommodated at Honfleur's town hall before arrangements were made for temporary hotel accommodation and subsequent repatriation. More than 70 emergency responders, supported by municipal authorities, police, firefighters and representatives of the Calvados Prefecture, participated in the overnight response.
The passengers included French, Belgian, Australian and German nationals. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire, while assessments of the damage to the vessel are expected to continue after the site has been secured.
CroisiEurope confirmed that emergency procedures had been implemented immediately after the outbreak of the fire and indicated that all passengers and crew had been brought ashore safely. The company also stated that affected guests would be returned home as soon as practicable while being accommodated locally in the interim.
For more MS Botticelli incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page