More than 100 people leap from blazing boat as fire engulfs children’s tour

Families were forced to abandon a ship in Turkey after flames engulfed their children’s tour.

More than 100 people were aboard the vessel named Imparator, which began burning in the Fethiye district of Mugla, south-western Turkey.

The seaside resort outing is particularly popular with British tourists and promises youngsters an ‘unforgettable adventure’ with meals, children’s games, and entertainment.

It hosts tours daily, exploring coastal bays and coves.

As the massive fire erupted, passengers leapt into the sea, with Coast Guard teams and nearby civilian boats and private vessels moving in to assist them.

An urgent distress call was made, prompting a multi-agency response involving the Turkish Coast Guard, the Directorate General of Coastal Safety, and maritime police.

Health teams then checked people over when they were brought to land.

Officials reported in the aftermath that all 115 passengers were ‘evacuated to shore’, with 11 taken to hospital after suffering smoke inhalation.

None were thought to be in a ‘serious condition’, and there weren’t any fatalities.

The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs did not confirm how many children were evacuated, but it’s been reported that several minors underwent precautionary medical checks.

‘We would like to inform the public that our customers and staff are safe,’ the boat’s operator added in a statement on Facebook.

It’s believed the fire broke out in the Toys Boat kitchen at around 11am local time in Katrancı Bay, but the exact cause remains unknown.

Extensive damage was caused, with images released by Turkish media showing the boat completely gutted by fire.

It was later seen starting to sink.

An investigation has since been launched to determine how the incident happened.

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