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A tour boat carrying 115 people caught fire off Fethiye in Türkiye's southwestern Mugla province on Thursday, forcing passengers, including children, to put on life jackets and jump into the sea as flames spread across the vessel.
Coast Guard teams and nearby boats moved in to evacuate those in the water, while health teams checked passengers after they were brought ashore. Initial reports said there were no fatalities.
The fire broke out for an as-yet unknown reason while the vessel was carrying out a daily "blue tour" near Katranci Bay, a term commonly used in Türkiye for leisure boat trips along coastal bays and coves.
As the flames quickly grew, the people on board jumped into the sea wearing life jackets. The Coast Guard, the Directorate General of Coastal Safety, and maritime police were sent to the area, while nearby boats also joined the rescue effort.
IHA reported that 115 people were aboard the vessel, while AA said emergency teams had evacuated 107 people as operations continued.
The flames eventually spread across much of the tour boat, causing extensive damage, and reports indicated that the vessel later began to sink.
Fethiye District Governor Fatih Akkaya went to the area after the incident and said no deaths had been reported, adding that passengers were brought to safety by Coast Guard vessels and other boats nearby.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and an investigation has been launched.
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