Yacht on Fire off Jesolo: Ten People Rescued, Boat Sunk

The Italian authorities launched an environmental operation immediately after the fire. "Rescue teams deployed floating booms and absorbent barriers" to contain leaking fuel and possible pollution, the operations commands said. Oil-containment buoys were positioned around the site of the incident.

The yacht, a privately owned motorboat, lay on the bottom of the Adriatic after sinking. Salvage divers and specialized ships are to raise the wreck in the coming days and inspect it for possible environmental damage. The public prosecutor's office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Environmental Protection and Salvage

There was no impact on flight operations at Venice airport, the airport company said. Ferry services between Mestre and the lagoon islands also continued as scheduled, it was reported. The beaches around Jesolo remained accessible; bathers were only asked to give the area a wide berth.

Residents and tourists in Jesolo and on the beach of Jesolo filmed the column of smoke with their phones and posted the footage on social networks. The images show a dense black cloud of smoke over the water as the fire spread rapidly across the hull.

The rescue work was coordinated by the port authority in coordination with the coast guard and the Venice fire service. The municipality of Jesolo also set up a temporary support point for relatives and passengers at the port.

Investigation into the Cause

Media such as Kronen Zeitung (KMM/Krone Multimedia) reported on the incident on Sunday and quoted initial eyewitnesses who spoke of a rapid spread of the flames.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. Authorities are examining whether a technical defect, an engine-room fire, or external circumstances triggered the blaze. An interim report is expected in the coming days.

A hotline was set up for the affected passengers. The municipality of Jesolo announced it would support those affected with accommodation and return travel.

The incident is reminiscent of previous fires on pleasure boats in the Adriatic. The authorities pointed out that the crew's swift reaction and the rapid deployment of rescue services had prevented a worse outcome.