Shocking Moment Nile Cruise Ship Catches Fire with Hundreds of Tourists on Board

A tourist cruise ship burst into flames on the River Nile, forcing the evacuation of over 200 holidaymakers. Terrifying footage captured the Iberotel Crown Empress engulfed in an orange blaze with flames exploding from the windows as the vessel sailed between Luxor and Edfu, Egypt. The fire is believed to have broken out in the ship’s galley at around 6:15pm on Tuesday for reasons which are still being investigated. The inferno spread throughout the entire hull, leaving the cabins completely destroyed. The staff activated the emergency alarm and moved passengers to the upper deck. Empress was docked near Esna to evacuate 220 tourists of varying nationalities, with no reported injuries or deaths. Passengers described chaos and difficulty during the evacuation, with some needing rescue by small boats.