Superyacht explodes and sinks off Cairns, 16 abandon ship
On the final day of a dream holiday guests aboard a luxury superyacht sailing off Queensland were jolted awake by crew yelling "fire, fire, fire".
Eight passengers and eight crew were aboard the 41 metre superyacht Seafaris when it caught fire and exploded before sinking off Cape Tribulation, north of Cairns, about 6am (AEST) on Thursday, Oct. 3. The group boarded life rafts and were rescued by a passing container ship that responded to a distress call.
They were then transferred to two smaller boats before being taken to the Cairns marina about noon. The captain of the container ship says he heard at least two explosions on the yacht, which burnt for about two hours before sinking.
On the final day of a dream holiday guests aboard a luxury superyacht sailing off Queensland were jolted awake by crew yelling "fire, fire, fire".
Eight passengers and eight crew were aboard the 41 metre superyacht Seafaris when it caught fire and exploded before sinking off Cape Tribulation, north of Cairns, about 6am (AEST) on Thursday, Oct. 3. The group boarded life rafts and were rescued by a passing container ship that responded to a distress call.
They were then transferred to two smaller boats before being taken to the Cairns marina about noon. The captain of the container ship says he heard at least two explosions on the yacht, which burnt for about two hours before sinking.