Fire Breaks Out on Carnival Freedom Cruise Ship Bound for the Bahamas
FREEPORT — Heath Barnes, a seasoned traveler, was enjoying his book on the upper decks of the Carnival Freedom cruise ship en route to the Bahamas when chaos struck.
As rain poured down, a deafening thunderstorm rattled the ship, followed by news of a fire spreading on board.
Witnessing flames and smoke billowing from the ship’s tail, Barnes knew this was no false alarm.
The fire erupted on the port side of the ship’s exhaust funnel around 3:15 p.m. local time, with reports suggesting a possible lightning strike as the cause.
Despite the intense situation, the ship’s fire response team swiftly worked to extinguish the blaze, aided by the captain steering towards heavy rain to douse the flames.
After two hours, the fire was under control, with no injuries reported among guests, aside from two crew members treated for minor smoke inhalation.
The damaged exhaust funnel fell onto deck 10, prompting Carnival to cancel upcoming cruises for immediate repairs.
Passengers were reassured they could continue their journey, although the unexpected turn of events added a thrilling twist to Barnes’ 18th Carnival Cruise experience.
Ultimately, Carnival promised full refunds and future cruise credits for affected passengers, ensuring their safety and satisfaction amid the unexpected mishap. — CNN
