All 115 people aboard the day-excursion vessel Emperor Attila were evacuated after a fire broke out near Katrancı Bay off Fethiye, in Türkiye's Muğla Province.
Türkiye's General Directorate of Maritime Affairs said the vessel was carrying 103 passengers, eight entertainers and four crew members when the incident occurred on 13 August 2026.
Eleven passengers affected by smoke were taken to hospital by ambulance. The authority subsequently confirmed that all 11 had been discharged and that none was reported to be in a serious condition.
Emergency services respond near Katrancı Bay
Local reports said flames spread rapidly through the vessel while it was operating a day trip in the Fethiye area. Those aboard put on lifejackets, with reports and images from the scene showing people entering the water as the evacuation unfolded.
Units from the Turkish Coast Guard, the General Directorate of Coastal Safety and the maritime police were dispatched. Nearby vessels also assisted in bringing people to safety, according to reports from Türkiye.
Some of those evacuated were taken to Coast Guard facilities in the Göcek and Karagözler areas, where medical teams carried out assessments. Children aboard the vessel were among those given precautionary checks.
There were no reported fatalities.
Later statement clarifies hospital figure
Initial reporting by Anadolu Agency said two people affected by smoke had been taken to hospital. A later statement from the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs put the number at 11 and confirmed that all had subsequently been discharged.
Deck7 is using the later official figure because it represents the most recent account published by the maritime authority overseeing the response.
The fire was extinguished by search-and-rescue personnel, after which cooling work was completed. Authorities also arranged for a barrier to be placed around the damaged vessel as a precaution against possible marine pollution.
An expert team was assigned to inspect the scene, while Fethiye Harbour Master began an administrative investigation. The cause of the fire has not been established publicly.
A local excursion vessel, not a cruise ship
Emperor Attila, also reported under its Turkish name İmparator Atilla, is a local sightseeing vessel used for day trips in the Fethiye area. It is not an ocean cruise ship, although the incident is relevant to visitors using organised or independently booked boat excursions during a cruise holiday in Türkiye.
The evacuation demonstrates the importance of following crew instructions, locating lifejackets and understanding the emergency arrangements whenever joining a smaller excursion vessel.
Sources: Türkiye General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, 13 August 2026; Anadolu Agency, 13 August 2026; Hürriyet Daily News, 13 August 2026.