Achille Lauro On Fire; 3 Dead, Eight Injured
(Updates number of passengers, adds deaths, motive?)
Chicago, IL , November 29,1994 -- The cruise ship Achille Lauro, made
famous by a 1985 terrorist takeover, is reportedly on fire and
probably sinking, off the coast of Northern Africa. A confirmed
British Royal Navy reports says that the Italian Registry ship
is located approximately 15 miles off the coast of Somalia.
According to the BBC World Service, the ship caught fire early
this morning and as many as 900 passengers have been evacuated
into life boats at the time of this report. British Coast Guard
officials say that the ship is listing and taking on water, and
that the crew has remained in an effort to fight a raging fire.
Although details are sketchy at this time, there are three
reported deaths, and eight reported injuries and fears that some
passengers may still be missing. The actual cause of the fire
has not been determined, but speculation says that sabotage
can't be ruled out at this time. Ships from several different
nations are reportedly on the scene of the disaster or enroute
to it.
A major rescue effort is believed being mounted by both
helicopters and ships. Italian authorities, monitoring the
situation, report that the Panamanian Oil ship Hawaiian King has
plucked more than 400 people from the water, and that another
ship has recovered another 200 people. As many as 200 others
remain to be rescued. Two American Navy ships, including the
Missile Frigates Gettysburg and Halyburton, are enroute to the
scene, but had to travel 350 nautical miles to assist in the
rescue. Several other commercial shipping craft are said to have
picked people up from lifeboats.
Earlier reports said that the fire had been brought under
control, but the latest radio traffic from the incident area
says that a U.S. Navy pilot overflying the scene has said that
the entire aft of the ship is completely engulfed in flames.
Some crew members may have remained on board to fight the fire,
but various confusing reports have said that everyone was
evacuated from the stricken vessel earlier this morning. One
unconfirmed report says that the ship is listing 40 degrees and
that it is in imminent anger of sinking.
ENN is monitoring this still developing story and will provide
additional details as they become available.
(c) Emergencynet NEWS Service, 1994
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