A pirate-themed party boat carrying 148 people, including 20 children, sank into the sea off the coast of Turkey, forcing terrified passengers to jump into open water as the vessel went under.
The frightening incident happened Friday, May 29, aboard the Big Boss Diamond in the Mediterranean Sea near Marmaris, according to reports from Metro.com.uk, news.com.au and The U.S. Sun.
Video captured by tourists on nearby boats showed the vessel dramatically tilting to one side off a rocky coastline before it slowly disappeared beneath the water. By the end of the ordeal, only the top of the ship’s mast could be seen above the surface.
The Big Boss Diamond had set sail from the popular resort city of Marmaris before it began taking on water in Akvaryum Bay near Paradise Island.
Passengers were forced to leap into the water while waiting for rescue crews to arrive.
Thankfully, everyone on board survived.
All passengers and crew members were safely brought back to shore by rescue teams, according to the reports. The boat was completely submerged within about an hour.
The Muğla Governorship, the provincial authority in the area, confirmed that rescue teams were sent to the scene and that “coordinated evacuations” were carried out.
Officials said there were “no casualties, injuries, or health problems” connected to the sinking.
Authorities have not yet announced an official cause.
However, several passengers reportedly claimed they saw the boat’s engine catch fire shortly before the vessel began taking on water, according to The Sun.
One British passenger said she was “glad to be off it and alive.”
The boat’s operator later addressed the incident on Instagram Stories, thanking people for their concern and reassuring followers that everyone was safe.
“Dear guests and friends, thank you very much for asking and worrying about us,” the operator wrote, according to Metro.com.uk, news.com.au and The U.S. Sun.
“We are all safe and fine,” the post continued.
The operator also said tours would continue on another vessel, Big Boss Yagna, while Big Boss Diamond is “fixed up.”
The Big Boss Diamond is operated by Yagna Tourism, which runs daily boat excursions around Marmaris.
The trip typically lasts five hours and takes passengers to swimming spots and sightseeing locations around the area. The company describes the excursion as a chance to create “magical moments of a lifetime.”
