Formentera superyacht bursts into flames as passengers escape for their lives
This is the dramatic moment a 88-foot luxury yacht goes up in flames off the paradise Mediterranean island of Formentera.
Onlookers gathered nearby in their own boats to watch the blaze take hold as thick black smoke rose high into the sky above the stricken vessel. Five crew and 12 passengers are said to have been on board the yacht but were able to abandon it in time despite the speed with which the fire engulfed the Italian-designed cruiser.
Terrifying video shows the flames roaring through the vessel, which is burnt back to little more than its frame in several places. The fire is thought to have ripped through the vessel in a matter of moments, sending it up in a massive fireball that could be seen from neighbouring Ibiza.
Only one of the crew members, described as a 39-year-old Spaniard who suffered minor burns, needed hospital treatment according to regional emergency response coordinators. The alarm was sounded around 6pm yesterday while the yacht was anchored off Es Cavall d’en Borras beach in the Ses Salines Natural Park.
It was anchored off the coat of Formentera (SOLARPIX.COM)
Only one crewman needed medical attention for minor burns (SOLARPIX.COM)Spanish coastguards confirmed this afternoon the yacht that went up in flames was called Irmao and it had sunk off a natural landmark called Punta de Sa Pedrera in Formentera. They shared a statement published alongside footage of coastguard vessel Acrux towing the stricken yacht further out to sea before it disappeared under the water.
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It read: “Yesterday a fire occurred on board Irmao off of Formentera. Private vessels rescued the 17 people on board. Our centre in the Majorcan capital Palma mobilised Acrux which towed the yacht which was on fire, but it sank.” It was not immediately clear why the blaze had started.
The fine sand beach, one of the best in Formentera off Ibiza where Leonardo DiCaprio has been spotted partying in recent days, is home to famous bar-restaurants El Tiburon and Beso Beach. The yacht has been named locally as Irmao, which is based in Ibiza and marketed online as being available for “out-of-this-world charter vacations." It sleeps 12 in a VIP cabin, one double cabin and four twin cabins and charters for nearly £40,000 a week in high season.
One unconfirmed local report said the vessel belonged to Spanish poker shark Diego Gomez Gonzales, who also goes by "The Lion", according to Olive Press. Gonzales, 34, earned his nickname after attending the 2012 European Poker Tour in Prague dressed in a fully-body lion costume. It's currently unknown if Gonzales was on board at the time or whether it was being rented.
The yacht sleeps 12 people and is £8,500 per day in peak season (SOLARPIX.COM)Gonzales was reportedly born in Madrid in 1988 and while growing up he started playing the card game with school pals and members of his family. As he got older he was drawn into the world of online poker before getting a place on the Spanish poker circuit. At the same tournament where he wore the lion suit, he came fifth and scored a whopping £200,000 prize.
The yacht was anchored off one of Formentera's most-stunning beaches. The island itself is one of the Balearics and is situated next to Ibiza. It is host to a number of world-famous bars, including El Tiburon and Beso Beach.
It is home to famous bar-restaurants El Tiburon and Beso Beach.
The nationalities of those on board have not yet been made public. Spanish coastguards responded to the emergency by towing the yacht further out to sea and assisting in putting out the flames. Last summer a £20 million superyacht owned by wealthy Italian businessman Paolo Scudieri went up in flames off the coast of Ibiza.
The 150ft vessel Aria SF caught fire on August 11, just a month after being delivered to its multi-millionaire owner. Spanish coastguards sent two rescue boats to the area as the nine passengers and seven crew on board abandoned ship after a Mayday call following a failed attempt to put out the blaze. There were no reports of any injuries. The black smoke the fire caused could be seen as far away as Majorca.
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