Turkey trip boat carrying 115 bursts into flames as families leap into the sea

Turkey trip boat carrying 115 bursts into flames as families leap into the sea The boat caught fire off the coast of Fethiye in south west Turkey with passengers, including children, forced into the water A massive fire has erupted on a tour boat in Turkey carrying around 115 passengers forcing them into the sea. The incident took place off Fethiyein the southwestern Mugla province on Thursday with people on board, including children, leaping into the water Coast Guard teams and nearby boats moved in to evacuate those in the water, while health teams checked passengers after they were brought ashore. Local reports say that there were 11 passengers affected by smoke who were taken to hospital by ambulances after being taken to hospital but it is understood that none are in a serious condition. The fire is believed to have broken out in the boat's kitchen at around 11am local time in Katrancı Bay but the exact cause is not yet known. Flames quickly spread through the vessel forcing the evacuation in the sea. The blaze caused 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 confirmed that no deaths had been reported, adding that passengers were brought to safety by Coast Guard vessels and other boats nearby. The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs announced that an investigation has been launched as part of the inquiry into the cause of the incident. The nationalities of those on board have not yet been released but tourists from around the world including the UK flock to Turkey's pristine Aegean and Mediterranean coastline each year, with boat trips extremely popular.