A 30-metre yacht burns off the coast of Formentera with 17 people on board

A large yacht, 30 metres long, has caught fire off the coast of Formentera. Specifically in the Cavall d’en Borràs area, in front of the Tiburón and Beso Beach restaurants, one of the most popular tourist spots along the coast. According to Salvamento Marítimo, five crew members and twelve passengers were on board the boat at the time of the fire. All of them were able to leave the boat unharmed, except for one of the crew, a 39-year-old Spanish man who suffered minor burns and was taken to Formentera hospital, the O61 said.

The fire started for unknown reasons around six o’clock in the afternoon. Apparently, it is the ‘Irmao’, a boat built in 1996 and was rented.

As can be seen in the videos and images accompanying this information, the flames could have started in the cockpit area of the yacht at the stern. As is normal at this point in the summer, there are dozens of other boats in the vicinity of the burned vessel.

The ‘Salvamar Acrux’ of Salvamento Maritimo has moved immediately from the port of Ibiza and, around seven o’clock in the afternoon, has begun the towing of the stricken yacht out to sea, to move it away from the rest of the boats. According to Salvamento, the towing operation is proving to be complicated, since the ropes were also burning. At the moment, and according to the same source, no pollution seems to have occurred.

A large column of black smoke is visible all over the island of Formentera and even from Ibiza.