Holiday horror as cruise ship bursts into flames - passengers running for lives

A cruise ship with over 100 passengers had to be evacuated after a huge fire erupted at a port in France. The fire broke out on board a cruise ship in the port of Honfleur, Normandy) on Sunday night. The ship was carrying 132 passengers, and there were a total of 163 people on board.

They were all evacuated and taken according to several Belgian and French media reports published on Monday morning. The fire broke out around 3.30 am in the galley of the ship, which was sailing on the Seine River between Paris and Normandy.

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Fire crews were still at the scene at 11am this morning (June 29). No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

On board there were French, Belgians, Australians, and Germans nationals. The evacuated passengers were taken to the Honfleur town hall. More than 70 rescue workers are on site, along with municipal services, national and local police, firefighters, and the Calvados prefecture, French media outlet ici said.

According to CroisiEurope, the company that operates the ship, the fire started in the galley, France3 reported. The media outlet also said a message from the company read: "In accordance with the safety protocol, the passengers and crew have been evacuated and are safe." The message also said "customers will be repatriated home as soon as possible and will be accommodated in hotels in the meantime".

Firefighters were first called to the scene at around 3.15 am. They described the fire as "significant at that point," French newspaper Le Parisien said. Emergency services are at the scene to ensure the flames do not reignite. "They are currently in the 'debris removal' phase, the newspaper also added.