Fire on Cruise Ship En Route to Singapore

In the early morning of February 20, a fire erupted on a cruise ship heading for Singapore, resulting in the tragic death of one crew member and leaving four passengers hospitalized.

The ship, known as World Legacy, was carrying 271 passengers, including 139 from Singapore, as reported by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

At around 4:00 a.m. local time, emergency services received a report of the fire. At that time, the vessel had a crew of 338 on board. Crews worked quickly to put out the fire at the Harbourfront Ferry Terminal while evacuating the passengers.

Firefighters from the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) successfully extinguished the blaze, which originated in the lounge area on Deck 9. Fortunately, all 271 passengers were evacuated safely, but at least four individuals required hospitalization.

Many passengers took to social media to share their experiences of the fire. One traveler described the scene, stating, “It was scary. The rescue operation took a long time,” while another recalled hearing the alarm and feeling increasingly anxious as they navigated through thick smoke.

Reports indicate that amidst the chaos, an uncle suffered broken ribs during the evacuation.

One crew member, who had joined the ship a few months prior, expressed relief that the fire was mostly under control, remarking, “It was a disaster.” Another crew member mentioned that there was initial hesitation to inform them about the fire, likely to prevent panic.

The MPA confirmed the crew member who lost their life was an Indonesian national, and their body has been transferred ashore. The relevant authorities are now conducting further investigations, and the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore has been notified.

Additionally, the MPA has established a safety perimeter around the vessel and advised other boats to steer clear while the investigation continues into the cause of the fire.