Ten people on board a 20-metre yacht had to be evacuated after a massive fire broke out.
Images show the entire vessel engulfed in flames, with a huge column of thick black smoke rising into the sky and visible for miles.
The fire broke out shortly after 6pm yesterday (30 August) and quickly spiralled out of control.
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Walter Bisiol was returning from Croatia to Cavallino-Treporti, Italy, with his partner, another couple and two children when they spotted the smoke.
They then saw people at the bow waving their arms and calling for help.
Walter, 44, brought his boat as close as possible to the burning yacht and threw over a fire extinguisher after those on board had run out.
He and his crew then began rescuing the 10 people on board, including a child.
At the same time, Walter contacted the Harbour Master’s Office by radio and told them he had taken the stricken passengers aboard, before following their instructions to the Coast Guard pier.
The yacht was around 100 metres off the coast of Jesolo, Italy, when the blaze began, as reported by Need To Know.
Luckily, everyone on board was brought to safety and no one was injured.
Firefighters soon arrived with boats and helicopters, including one that dropped water on the flames from above.
The fire completely destroyed the yacht, which gradually sank, creating a diesel pollution risk that firefighters and authorities are working to contain.
The cause of the blaze remains unknown, although authorities have launched an investigation into what happened.
One theory is that a short circuit may have sparked the fire, which then spread through the yacht’s paintwork and plastic materials, potentially explaining the thick black smoke.
“Thank you to all our rescuers,” wrote Luca Zaia, President of the Veneto Regional Council. “Always on the front line and constantly working to keep us safe.”
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