(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A luxury yacht went up in flames at Al Hamra Marina in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
The Dh14million vessel sank into the sea after it was completely destroyed, according to informed sources with the RAK civil defence department. "Initial investigations showed that the blaze was caused by electric shortcut, following which the fire started in the upper deck, and engulfed the entire luxury yacht." The Central Operations Room of the RAK police, alerted of the inferno, dispatched the civil defence firefighters and rescue teams to the site in a record time. "However, the flames spread quickly in the volatile and inflammable materials on the boat." The RAK firefighters pulled the yacht out to the sea in a bid to better control the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby boats and facilities, they added. "Though no one has been hurt, the luckily insured yacht that was built by a Turkish shipbuilder 16 years ago, actually in 2000, sank into the Hamra Marina offshore, after it totally went up in flames." Eye witnesses told Khaleej Times that the yacht went up in flames all of a sudden. "The fire spread so quickly in the entire vessel, even before the civil defence people arrived at the site." "Though they managed to put out and contain the flames before spreading to nearby boats using different materials, the luxury yacht sank into the sea. Meanwhile, the RAK civil defence firefighters managed to put out another fire in the preparation room of the lab of the Hamham secondary school in Ras Al Khaimah. Though the fire started early before the students arrival, the school administration sent them home for fear of suffocation and for their own safety. Another fire erupted in the same school in the Resources room, according to informed sources at the school. "No casualties were reported." A source with the RAK civil defence department said the fire started at the one-floor school, built at Sohaila area in 1996, at 7.40am before the beginning of the school day. "Investigations are on to identify the reasons behind the fire." Ahmed Shaaban Originally from Egypt, I have been in Dubai since December 2005. Before coming here, I worked as an English language instructor, chief En/Ar translator, proofreader, reporter in Egypt and Qatar. I have also worked as a reporter, correspondent and simultaneous translator with two satellite channels in Dubai. I have a masters degree in media, Cairo University, 2014, a bachelor degree in English language and translation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 1996, and three post-graduate diplomas in English language and Instruction. With over 19 years of experience in translation, interpretation, EFL instruction, and reporting. I am interested in technology, aviation, politics, as well as community, parliament and defence issues. I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, and surfing the web.