Carnival Cruise Ship Fire Extinguished in Grand Turk

Emergency Response Team Swiftly Contains Blaze in Funnel

Passengers Safely Evacuated, No Injuries Reported

A fire that broke out in the funnel of the Carnival Freedom ship, which was docked in Grand Turk, was extinguished swiftly by the ship's emergency response team Thursday morning. Passengers were safely evacuated with no injuries reported.

The fire, which began around 9:30 AM local time, was contained within the funnel and did not spread to other parts of the ship. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

"The crew responded quickly and efficiently to the situation," said Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson Vance Gulliksen. "We are grateful that there were no injuries and that the fire was contained so quickly."

Passengers who were on board the ship at the time of the fire were taken to a local resort while the ship undergoes repairs. Carnival Cruise Line has arranged for alternative accommodations and flights for those who were scheduled to depart from Grand Turk.

The Carnival Freedom is a 110,000-ton ship that can accommodate over 3,000 passengers. It is one of the largest ships in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.