A significant fire broke out aboard the Iberotel Crown Empress, a cruise vessel traveling on the River Nile, forcing the evacuation of more than 200 tourists on October 28. The ship had departed from Luxor on October 27 for a 12-day voyage and was en route to Edfu when flames ignited in the galley around 6:15 p.m. Witnesses reported that thick smoke quickly spread through parts of the vessel, affecting several cabins and a hall.
Crew members immediately raised the alarm and guided passengers to the upper deck before rescue teams arrived. The ship was docked at an unscheduled anchorage near Esna, where all passengers—approximately 220 tourists—were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Passengers described the evacuation as chaotic and tense. One traveler told VRT News that the lower deck—the usual exit route—was already engulfed in flames, leaving many unable to escape that way. “It was chaos—people didn’t know where to go,” the passenger said, adding that nearby boats used flashlights to signal concerns about the smoke. Some tourists managed to escape via the gangway, while others, trapped in their cabins, were rescued by small boats.
A crew member informed La Repubblica that emergency signals were used to alert nearby vessels to maintain their distance. They said passengers were frightened but cooperative during the rescue.
Local media reports indicated that initial findings suggested the fire may have resulted from an electrical short circuit in the kitchen. The Egyptian Public Prosecution Office has launched an investigation, and the Iberotel Crown Empress has been taken out of service pending the investigation’s conclusion. Authorities are also reviewing fire safety protocols across Nile cruise operations following the incident.
