Deadly fire on Norway's Coastal Steamer
The fire on Hurtigruten ”MS Nordlys” was alerted this morning while it was entering the port of Ålesund. Two of the crew members have died and sixteen persons are reported to have been injured as a result of the fire.
All 262 people on board have been evacuated. Two people are reported to have serious injuries.
MS “Nordlys” needed help from another vessel to be able to manoeuvre to the port of Ålesund after fire broke out in the engine room this morning. The smoke is now spreading all over the town of Ålesund and parts of the town centre has been evacuated because of toxic smoke.
Evacuation has been finished and several of the injured have been transported to hospital for treatment, according to NRK. There are also reports that some of the injured have burn injuries. Fire fighters have control over the fire, but the situation on board the ship is still not clear. The vessel takes in water and heels over at port.
Hurtigruten, or the coastal steamer, is a daily cruise boat on the coast of Norway. It runs from Bergen on the west coast of southern Norway, all along the coast of northern Norway before it ends up in the North-Norway border town of Kirkenes. A total of 13 ships are in Hurtigrutens fleet, and ”Nordlys” is a part of the newer generation ships, built in 1994.
