Three killed in cruise ship fire
An investigation is under way after three people were killed in a fire on the luxury cruise ship Oceania Insignia in St Lucia.
The cruise line has confirmed that the victims were a crew member and two contractors.
"We extend our deepest condolences to their families during this very difficult time," it said in a statement.
According to local newswires, the victims suffered severe burns.
St Lucia News Online said a 42-year-old male is also under observation at hospital for mild respiratory depression caused by smoke inhalation.
According to the authorities, the fire started in one of the ship’s four engines and fire crews were called at around 9.25am on Thursday morning.
The 656 passengers were evacuated safely and the rest of the cruise was cancelled.
The Insignia was on a 10-day trip and was due to arrive in Miami on December 17.
The cruise line said all passengers would be fully refunded and charter flights would fly them to Miami, where they would be accommodated before being flown back to their departure airports.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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