Luxury yacht inferno: Tourists leap into the sea to escape flames
5:21 PM EDT, July 19, 2024
A terrifying end to a luxury trip in Turkey occurred when a yacht with approximately 110 tourists on board caught fire. Many people saved themselves by making risky jumps directly into the sea.
The tourists, traveling on a luxury yacht off the coast of paradise-like Marmaris in Turkey, experienced moments of horror. The resort has the largest yacht port in the country, and tourists eagerly use it during their holidays there.
One of the cruises had a tragic ending. The yacht, with approximately 110 people on board, caught fire.
A video posted online shows the fire consuming the cruiser and a pillar of smoke rising high into the air. Some tourists saved themselves by making risky jumps straight into the sea.
The film was shot from the deck of another ship. Rescue boats and people drifting in the water are visible, being thrown life rings. The crews of nearby vessels also rushed to help. The yacht burned down and sank.
Tourist paradise burns
Turkey has also been experiencing record heat for many days. Temperatures exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit have led to dangerous fires, which emergency services nationwide have been battling for over two weeks.
The most serious situation currently is in Izmir, western Turkey, where a forest fire has forced the suspension of operations at the local airport.
Fires related to high temperatures are also breaking out in Bulgaria. In the south of the country, in the village of Voden, 35 houses were burned down. Some residents fled their farms, and authorities forcibly evacuated some. In neighboring North Macedonia, a fire is consuming mountain forests near Bitola. Firefighters report that the fire line there is over eighteen miles long.
Extreme heat is also persisting in Italy. The record-high temperatures are caused by an African anticyclone named "Charon." The highest red alert status has been declared in 12 cities, including Rome, Bologna, and Florence. In Foggia, Taranto, Rome, and Sicily, thermometers showed over 104 degrees Fahrenheit this week.
