Fire breaks out on board cruise ship docked off the coast of Corfu

Fire breaks out on board huge cruise ship docked off the coast of Corfu

  • Fire broke out on ship, believed to be the MSC Lirica, around 3.30pm local time 
  • Videos showed two lifeboats on fire and smoke billowing from side of vessel 
  • Fire crews were called and brought the blaze under control around an hour later
  • Tracking data shows Lirica arrived in Corfu on March 1, after sailing from Italy 

A fire has broken out on board a cruise ship docked off the coast of Corfu.

Videos showed flames and black smoke billowing from the side of the ship, believed to be the MSC Lirica, around 3.30pm local time on Friday.

Two lifeboats strapped to the side of the vessel could be seen in flames, though it is unclear if this is where the blaze started. 

Fire crews were called and by around 4.30pm appeared to have brought the blaze under control, though the side of the ship was heavily damaged.

The boat had been at port in Corfu since March 1, data held by tracking site Marine Traffic showed, having sailed from the Port of Augusta in Italy.

Europe’s cruise industry has been shuttered for months as countries combat the Covid pandemic. 

More to follow…