Shock moment on the Pacific: Passengers of a cruise ship are awakened by the acrid smell of burning and smoke.
Sydney – A holiday trip on the Australian Pacific takes an unexpected turn: In the early morning hours of May 28, a fire siren asks all passengers of the "Pacific Adventure" to leave their beds. Unlike usual, they are greeted by a smoky stench instead of the smell of coffee. A fire has broken out on board. Same sea, thousands of kilometers away: Just recently, a whale caused another boat accident on the Pacific.
Alarm on cruise ship: 4,000 passengers are awakened by smoke and the smell of burning
Not a nightmare, but reality – it probably takes a few minutes for sleep-drunk passengers to realize what's going on at 3:30 a.m. A loud siren then sounded over the P&O Cruises Australia cruise ship, according to The Daily Telegraph and other local media. The request: put on a life jacket and leave the cabin. This is what the travelers had learned in an emergency drill before the start of the cruise. At the agreed meeting point, passengers will be counted.
Off Sydney: Fire broke out on cruise ship. © Bianca de Marchi/imago/Symbolbild
Among the passengers was Emma Llewllyn with her 13-year-old daughter. She told 9News that it was the first time on a cruise ship for both of them – so the evacuation was particularly nerve-wracking. The fire broke out on the deck directly below them and the smell of smoke enveloped them in the corridors. All the questions went through the worried mother's head: "Do we have to leave the ship and get into lifeboats?'"
No injuries after fire on cruise ship
Fires are one of the greatest dangers on ship trips. In addition to a cruise, it can also meet passengers of a houseboat or luxury cars on cargo ships. From damaged on-board electronics to overheated cargo to irresponsible passenger behavior: the causes of fire can be manifold. In the case of the "Pacific Adventure", was a cigarette the culprit? An obvious reason, because the fire broke out on the balcony of a passenger cabin. However, it is still unknown whether it was actually a smoke accident. A P&O spokesperson told Business Insider:
The extent of the damage and the cause of the fire are not yet fully understood and are still being investigated.
Spokesperson for P&O Cruises Australia
The fire brigade successfully declared war on the flames. About 1.5 hours after the incident, passengers were able to return to the cabin, reports The Daily Telegraph. The shipping company then shared the good news with the public: the fire was quickly brought under control and there were no injuries. It is scheduled to arrive in Sydney later today. (Felina Wellner)