Crews Rescue Hundreds From Burning Baltic Ferry

BERLIN (AP) — A ferry carrying around 240 people caught fire in the Baltic Sea, injuring 22 people, German authorities said Saturday. All passengers and crew were rescued.

An explosion on the upper deck of the 650-foot (200-meter) Lisco Gloria set the ship ablaze at about midnight, authorities said. It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion.

The Lithuanian-flagged ferry was traveling from the German port of Kiel to Klaipeda, Lithuania. The ship, which was in Danish waters, was still ablaze Saturday.

Six other ships rushed to the scene to help evacuate passengers and crew shortly after the accident, authorities said. Three people were taken to hospitals by helicopter and the others were being taken back to Germany on another ferry.

Police said 19 slightly injured people also had to seek medical treatment after they were brought back to the coast.

Maritime experts were lowered onto the ferry by helicopter and they anchored the burning vessel, preventing it from drifting toward shore. Firefighters were trying to cool the ship to prevent it from breaking apart.