According to Greek port authorities, a fire broke out on Friday on an Italian-flagged cruise ship cruising through the Mediterranean’s Ionian Sea with 237 passengers and 51 crew on board.

Police said three tug boats and three patrol boats had been sent to help passengers off the Euroferry Olympia, which was heading to Italy from the Greek city of Igoumenitsa.

“The captain of the Euroferry Olympia asked the passengers to leave the boat,” police said.

No casualties have been reported so far.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and an investigation has begun, according to the Greek coast guard.

Image Credit: AFP

You were reading: Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia cruising with 288 on-board catches fire