Eight individuals were harmed in an explosion on a tourist vessel in the resort town of Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. Among the casualties, three sustained serious injuries and were transported to a hospital. The incident took place as the motorboat, referred to as a tourist boat locally, was departing from the marina.
At this time, it is uncertain if any British citizens were among those injured. Firefighters at the marina were seen extinguishing the flames with hoses from land after local residents on jet skis and other boats came to assist the passengers and tried to put out the fire.
The emergency was reported around 12:20 pm, prompting witnesses to notify the emergency services as a dark plume of smoke rose into the sky, visible from nearby beaches. The cause of the explosion remains unknown.
A nearby fisherman stated to a local publication that the boat, constructed of polyester, quickly caught fire due to its fuel content. Subsequently, the vessel sank due to the fire. The area of the incident has been cordoned off for investigation purposes.
Fuengirola Town Hall released a statement indicating that emergency services responded to a fire on a boat near the harbor mouth, resulting from an explosion. Eight individuals were aboard the boat, all of whom sustained injuries, with three being severe. Prompt rescue efforts were able to bring the crew to safety.
Last year, four British nationals were rescued from a motor yacht that caught fire and sank off Mahon. The incident involved a fire in the engine room that swiftly spread throughout the vessel. Coastguards intervened to extinguish the fire and decided to move the boat further out to sea to prevent a potential explosion.
In a separate incident in Majorca, a British couple suffered second-degree burns in a boat explosion, with burns to their face, arms, and other areas. Another case involved a British vacationer among three individuals injured in a boat explosion near Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca, with severe facial burns requiring hospitalization and ongoing investigations.
Good Samaritans and emergency responders swiftly reacted to the incidents, highlighting the importance of safety measures and swift response in maritime emergencies.