Seven luxury yachts sank and another was damaged in a fire today in the famous Yalikavak yacht port in the Turkish resort town of Bodrum on the Aegean coast, Hurriyet Daily News reported, BTA reported.
The damage is estimated at over $100 million. The fire broke out at around 3:40 a.m. on a yacht anchored in the port and quickly spread to neighboring vessels due to strong winds.
Firefighting teams arrived on the scene by land and water in an attempt to control the fire in one of the most prestigious yacht ports in the Mediterranean.
According to initial estimates, seven yachts between 20 and 24 meters in length were completely destroyed and sank. One vessel suffered partial damage.
According to the Mugla Governor's Office, the fire started on the yacht “Sisu“ after an explosion of unknown cause, which is currently under investigation.
Information about the incident does not provide definitive information about the ownership of the yachts affected, because many of the luxury vessels in the port of Yalikavak are registered in the name of offshore companies. According to local media reports, one of them, the “Iceberg“, was owned by a Russian businessman before passing into the hands of another owner. Another, the “Dad’s Toy“, was described by port staff as a symbol of luxury and is believed to be linked to a British or American billionaire. A third of the burned yachts, the “Lulu d’Angel“, is believed to belong to a Middle Eastern family and is known to be used infrequently and with a high degree of discretion.