Puerto Rico ferry fire: More than 500 passengers forced to evacuate burning ship

The ship was docked safely after US Coast Guard raced to help stricken vessel carrying 512 passengers en route from the Dominican Republic

More than 500 people were safely evacuated from a ferry on fire off the coast of Puerto Rico, according to the US Coast Guard.

Police said that plumes of smoke had been spotted flowing out of the ship about a mile from the San Juan harbour. After successfully evacuating the burning ferry, police say the ship has been safely docked.

The Caribbean Fantasy, as the ship is called, was en route from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to San Juan.

The USCG first received a 911 call at 7.42 am their time, with reports that a fire had started in the ship's engine room. Coast Guard officials said the ferry was one mile off the San Juan harbour with 512 people aboard.

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“We were trying to extinguish it for two hours, but couldn't,” Marlon Doblado, one of the ship's two mechanics, told the Associated Press.

Several dozen passengers were carried off on gurneys after arriving to shore. Some reported dehydration, respiration troubles, and high blood pressure according to the fire department spokesperson. The extent of passenger injuries was not immediately clear.

#PuertoRico: llegada de los primeros evacuados del ferry @lauquinterodz pic.twitter.com/HXKgMCpPoV

— InfoEmergencias (@InfoEmerg) August 17, 2016

Most of the people aboard the ship were youth athletes from the Dominican Republican on their way to competitions on the neighbouring island.

"I was in the restaurant when I saw the smoke. I'm giving all the glory to the Lord today," Fiordalise Pitchard, who was in Puerto Rico on holiday, said.

Video posted on social media showed ferry passengers putting on life jackets as they prepared to disembark.

Reportan “Fuego" en el Ferry ruta #SantoDomingo #PuertoRico dicen que el Barco está Próximo al Muelle de San Juan pic.twitter.com/JEIBpehc6D

— Félix (@fsvtelemin) August 17, 2016

Despite its imposing size, the Caribbean Fantasy is not classified as a cruise ship by the Coast Guard. It contains private cabins for overnight stays during its trips between San Juan and Santo Domingo.

The trips can last between eight and 12 hours, depending on weather, its website says.

"The ferry travels over night, which means guests have the option of partying the night away or booking a cabin to sleep in," it reads. There are 140 private cabins and 450 seats on the ferry.