A French cruise ship was evacuated Wednesday in Falklands Islands after a fire broke out in its engine room.
The 347 passengers and crew on the Le Boreal were safely evacuated and the remainder of the cruise was cancelled, a spokesman for owner company Compagnie du Ponant said in a statement.
"As a precaution, all passengers were evacuated from the ship. They will re-embark on L'Austral, who belongs to the Ponant fleet, situated nearby, before being repatriated quickly," the statement said, according to itv.
See the video of rescue operation below.
The ship issued a distress call Wednesday early morning while it was sailing near the British-ruled Falkland Islands. British forces and Falkland local authorities immediately carried out a search and rescue operation.
"In an operation coordinated from Mount Pleasant, Royal Air Force Search and Rescue helicopters, supported by British International and Bristows helicopters, successfully winched 79 people from the deck of the LE BOREAL and from two life rafts in the water. All of these evacuees were brought to the British Forces Base at Mount Pleasant where they received care, clothing, food and medical attention. HMS CLYDE assisted two further lifeboats with over 200 evacuees on board, ensuring they were brought to safety," the British defence ministry said in a statement, according to Maritime Matters.
Defense Secretary Michael Fallon praised the swift action taken by British forces, saying that they saved many lives and prevented this situation from developing into a human tragedy, according to AFP.
