The Italian Coast Guard has deployed patrol vessels to rescue the occupants of a recreational launch after it caught fire in the Tyrrhenian Sea on Friday, July 16.
The coast guard station at Portoferraio in Livorno first learned of the incident after eyewitnesses reported a vessel on fire some 32 kilometres off Pianosa Island.
The coast guard crews that arrived at the scene rescued all who were on board the burning vessel as firefighting teams from Portoferraio attempted to contain the blaze. However, the firefighting effort proved unsuccessful, and the launch slipped beneath the waves later in the day on Friday.
No serious injuries have been reported among the survivors.
The coast guard is now monitoring the area for any signs of pollution as investigators work to identify the causes of the fire as well as the responsible parties.