A £ 6million has sunk after it caught fire at Torquay Harbor.
Spectacular images showed the 85-foot ship being consumed by fire, with thick black smoke rising into the sky.
The Environment Agency confirmed that the yacht had collapsed on Saturday afternoon and a spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire Service said there were five fire trucks at the scene to deal with the blaze. .
They said: “There is an 85-foot motor boat on fire. Firefighters called at 11:57 a.m.
“Five fire engines at the scene. Relationship with the head of the port. Please stay away from the area.”
Spectacular images show the 85-foot ship consumed by fire, with thick black smoke rising into the sky
(James Watson / DevonLive / BPM)
The yacht reportedly drifted to the harbor after the fire burned through the ropes that held it to the dock, but the boat was later secured by firefighters.
One witness told Devon Live that they saw explosions shortly after the fire started, while another said the roaring flames were “like a ball of fire.”
They said: “The ropes burned and drifted to the dock. Firefighters grabbed carts and bombs from pontoons but the water did not reach.
“Some people are trapped at the other end of the dock and can’t come back. Firefighters are running down the dock. It’s still big flames.”
Another police statement said: “It is believed that the ship is well lit and had broken off from the mooring. It has now been secured by the Fire Brigade near the dock.
“No one was injured at this time.
“Emergency services remain at the scene.
“Due to the levels of smoke and fumes, we are asking residents in the area to keep their doors and windows closed at this time. Citizens are also being asked to avoid the area and beaches are being cleaned by public safety officers.”
A witness tweeted that the situation has “intensified” as all companies on the Torquay front have closed.
According to a statement from the fire department, the fire department received 47 calls for reports of the burning yacht.
Firefighters said “all the people were counted and the immediate area was evacuated.”
They added that the yacht contains about 8,000 liters of diesel.
Several road closures have also been made, such as the boardwalk and waterfront areas, Torbay Road at the junction with Rathmore Road, Belgrave Road at the junction with Chestnut Avenue and Shedden Hill at the junction with Croft Road.