A fire broke out early Monday morning in the galley of the MS Botticelli cruise ship, leading to the evacuation of all 132 passengers and 31 crew members. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. while the vessel was moored in the port of Honfleur, France, on the Seine River between Paris and Normandy.
Emergency services responded to the blaze, which produced thick smoke. Firefighters worked for several hours to bring the fire under control, with the ship sustaining significant damage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Passengers and crew were safely transferred to a hall provided by the town. Those on board included French, Belgian, Spanish, Australian, and German nationals. A passenger from Spain, identified only as Xavier, described hearing an alarm and people talking loudly before being evacuated, noting that while there were flames and smoke, the situation was managed calmly.
Local officials, including Nicolas Pubreuil, the mayor of Honfleur, expressed relief that no one was injured. Stéphane Sinagoga, the Secretary General of the Calvados Prefecture, confirmed that all evacuees were in good health but required medical monitoring. Special attention was given to passengers who left without personal belongings or essential medications. An emergency physician was on site to facilitate health monitoring and assist with prescription renewals if necessary.
By late morning, passengers were permitted to retrieve their luggage. The MS Botticelli, measuring 110 meters in length and 11.40 meters in width, has a capacity of 145 passengers across 73 cabins. The cruise company, CroisiEurope, stated that affected customers would be repatriated and provided with hotel accommodation in the interim.