Fire Evacuates 220 Tourists From Nile Cruise Ship Near Esna

A fire erupted on the cruise ship Iberotel Crown Empress on the River Nile in Egypt on October 28 during the first day of its 12-day voyage between Luxor and Edfu, believed to have started in the ship's galley, possibly due to an electrical short circuit. The flames rapidly spread, destroying several cabins and an entire hall, forcing crew members to move over 200 passengers from the lower decks to the upper deck, then evacuate them at an unscheduled anchorage near Esna. Passengers described the evacuation as chaotic and frightening, especially since the usual exit routes were engulfed in flames, and some had to be rescued by small boats. Despite the severity of the fire, all passengers were safely evacuated with no reported injuries or fatalities. The Iberotel Crown Empress has been temporarily withdrawn from service as authorities, led by the Egyptian Public Prosecution Office, investigate the incident and review safety protocols on other Nile cruise ships to prevent future occurrences.