Huge plumes of black smoke rose from Torquay Marina and people were evacuated after a super-fire, estimated at £ 6 million, caught fire. Police have declared this an important fact.
Firefighters were called shortly before noon Saturday to report the 85-foot yacht fire. More than two hours after the incident, it was still on fire as several fire crews tried to put out the blaze.
The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the yacht and Princess Pier next to it were both on fire and the yacht contained about 8,000 gallons of diesel.
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All the people had been counted, firefighters said, and the immediate area was evacuated.
At 3 p.m., the fire department advised all residents of the area near the marina to keep the windows and doors closed due to “harmful fumes,” adding: “Staffing is making progress. constant to extinguish the fire “.
Crews used the harbor captains’ boat to help try to put out the fire.
The commander of the South Devon Coast Guard area and the south east coast of Cornwall said he was helping Devon and Cornwall police close the Torquay waterfront.
Witnesses reported that “thick columns of acrid smoke roared from the port of Torquay.”
“We stayed and watched for about 10 minutes until the smoke started to affect our breasts,” Georgina Cleasby, who was cycling home when she saw the fire, told ITV.
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“There was so much smoke that it darkened the sun. We heard a few minor explosions and we could also see flames.”
Devon and Cornwall police said the ship was “well lit and had broken off at mooring”, but had since been secured by firefighters.
They said nearby beaches were also being evacuated for public safety. They said there were several road closures, even along the boardwalk and the boardwalk areas and parts of Torbay Road, Belgrave Road and Shedden Hill.
Firefighters said the cause of the fire was unknown and that an investigation would be carried out.