A fire broke out in the engine room of a ferry departing from the port of Piombino in Livorno, bound for the island of Elba. The ship is currently being evacuated.
According to reports, there are approximately 300 people on board. The Coast Guard and firefighters are on site managing the situation.
The ferry, named Corsica Express Three and operated by Corsica Sardinia Ferries, was en route to Portoferraio. Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides.
The ferry
The ferry had left the port of Piombino at around 3:15 p.m., but after about 15 minutes, smoke was detected in the engine room, where the fire had started. The maritime directorate of Livorno explained that the fire was quickly extinguished, but the priority was to ensure the safety of the passengers by returning to port immediately.
The fire caused a malfunction in the aft door controls, preventing them from opening when the ferry returned to Piombino. As a result, emergency procedures were activated, and passengers had to disembark via the emergency slides. Due to the inability to open the doors, firefighters deployed 3 ladder trucks, 3 teams, 2 air carts, personnel from the Livorno and Grosseto diving units, and the Drago helicopter from the Cecina flight department.
Once safety inspections are complete, vehicles locked inside the garage will also be disembarked.
