Boat with Six People, Including Two Children, Catches Fire Near Hvar
Quick response from witnesses and authorities prevents tragedy; all rescued, no injuries reported.
Quick response from witnesses and authorities prevents tragedy; all rescued, no injuries reported.
On Friday morning, in the area around the island of Hvar, a fire broke out on a vessel flying the Croatian flag, causing dramatic scenes at sea. The boat carried a crew of four, including two children, and all were evacuated in time with no injuries, as confirmed by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.
According to Slobodna Dalmacija, the fire was reported to the National Coordination Center for Search and Rescue at Sea (MRCC Rijeka) at 11:52 AM. The Harbor Master's Office in Split, along with its branch offices in Milna and Hvar, and the Maritime and Airport Police Station in Split, were immediately notified.
Witnesses played a crucial role, organizing the evacuation of all passengers from the burning boat before rescue teams arrived. The crew was transferred to a nearby vessel, from which a police boat safely transported them to shore.
The rescue boat from the Hvar Harbor Master's Office branch, carrying members of the Hvar Volunteer Fire Department (DVD Hvar), arrived at the scene at 12:15 PM. The burning vessel was spotted approximately 200 meters from the coast, near Cape Pelegrin, located on the western part of Hvar Island.
The firefighters quickly brought the fire under control, preventing the vessel from burning completely and sinking. After the fire was extinguished, the boat remained afloat.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the fire originated in the stern section of the boat, which was about ten meters long. As reported by Net.hr, the vessel's tank still contained approximately 700 liters of fuel, but no pollution of the sea or marine environment was recorded at the scene.
The burned boat was later towed and safely moored in Hvar's Križna Luka. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Although sources disagree on the exact day of the week, Slobodna Dalmacija reports that the incident occurred on Friday morning, while Net.hr mentions Thursday. Despite this, the swift intervention of local residents, firefighters, and maritime authorities ensured that this maritime accident resulted in no fatalities or injuries.
