Fire on passenger vessel off Malta contained, all aboard safe VIDEO / Updated

A fire that broke out on a passenger vessel off the coast of Malta early on May 3 has been brought under control, with all crew and passengers reported safe.

The vessel, Conscience, issued a Mayday call while navigating outside Maltese territorial waters, reporting a blaze on the bow, Caliber.Az reports per Malta's Department of Information.

At the time, 12 crew members and four civilian passengers were on board. No injuries were reported.

According to Malta Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), the crew confirmed the fire was not contained and requested immediate assistance. A firefighting-equipped tug, which was approximately one nautical mile away, responded and reached the scene shortly after 00:20 local time.

Firefighting operations began promptly, and by 01:28, the fire was reported under control. The Armed Forces of Malta also deployed a patrol vessel to support the emergency response.

All crew members were confirmed safe by 02:13, although they declined to evacuate to the assisting tug. Additional help was provided to tackle the fire from within the ship.

By 03:45, authorities said the vessel and its crew were secure. The Conscience remains outside territorial waters and is under continuous observation by the relevant authorities.

10:28

A vessel from the “Freedom Flotilla” came under attack by an Israeli drone while attempting to breach the naval blockade of Gaza.

The strike sparked a fire onboard, prompting the crew to send out an urgent distress signal, Caliber.Az reports, citing Al Jazeera.

According to the report, Cyprus’s naval forces responded to the call, and the ship is now anchored in international waters off the coast of Malta.

The Instagram account gazafreedomflotilla, associated with the mission, claimed the drone strike occurred at 12:23 a.m. local time and struck the vessel’s front section twice. The hits reportedly ignited a fire and caused a breach in the hull.

Organisers of the flotilla believe the drone deliberately targeted the ship’s generator, leaving it disabled and at risk of sinking with 30 international human rights activists still on board. They issued a public plea for immediate assistance from the Maltese government.

Yasemin Acar, a media officer with the group, said there is a “hole in the vessel” and the “ship is sinking”.

Acar said the ship was attacked off the coast of Malta in international waters, and it is now anchored 17km (10.5 miles) from the country. The crew has “sent out SOS calls to the surrounding countries” and a “small boat” from Cyprus has been sent to help, she added.

“We have 30 international human rights activists on that vessel at this very moment, on a vessel that is sinking,” said Acar.

As of now, Israeli authorities have declined to comment on the incident.

By Tamilla Hasanova