Costa Cruises has released the following statement:
The company was notified today at 10:39 CET that a fire had broken out aboard the Costa Allegra in the electric generators room located in the aft.
The shipboard fire-extinguishing system and procedures were promptly activated and the special fire-fighting squads intervened to extinguish fire.
The fire did not spread to any other area of the ship. There were no injuries or casualties. As a precaution, on board, the general emergency alarm was given and all passengers and crew members – not engaged in the management of the emergency -reached the muster stations with the safety equipment.
Currently the ship is over 200 miles south-west of the Seychelles, and at about 20 miles from Alphonse Island. Inspections on the state of the engine room are on-going, in order to restart the necessary equipment to reactivate ship functions.
According to the procedures, the relevant authorities were alerted, including the Maritime Rescue Control Centre in Rome, which are following the situation ready to provide the necessary support. The Allegra also sent out ‘distress’ signals. Costa Crociere and the relevant authorities are providing the ship with the necessary support.
The Allegra is going to be reached by tugs and other naval and aerial units. There are 636 passengers onboard of of various nationalities and 413 crew members. The ship departed from Diego Suarez on Saturday, Feb. 25 and was cruising toward the port of Victoria (Mahè – Seychelles) where it was expected to arrive tomorrow Feb. 28. The Allegra, built at Mariotti on a cargo ship hull in 1992, is 28,597 tons, 188 meters in length, and has eight passenger decks and 399 cabins.
The vessel can carry a maximum of 1,400 people, crew included.