Two fires destroy yachts at Port Forum Barcelona

Reports emerging overnight suggest that a major fire broke out at the Port Forum marina in Barcelona yesterday, sinking several yachts. Hours later, a second fire broke out in the same area of the marina, causing two more yachts to sink.

Caught on film by sosailize.net, several Spanish newspapers reported that the first fire broke out at 07:00am, completely destroying four yachts between 19m and 23m LOA, and sinking them all as a result. Another yacht in the same size range also suffered subsequent damage as a result of the flames, with fire officials removing her from the docks to prevent the spread of the blaze.

While firefighters eventually gained control of the flames, officials say another fire broke out around 05:30pm UTC, taking two and a half hours to be extinguished. During this blaze, another five yachts suffered damage, with two more sinking. Fire officials moved another four yachts out of the marina as a precautionary measure.

No reports mention significant injuries, however two dozen people were treated for smoke inhalation from the first fire, according to Spanish media reports, with one person transferred to a nearby hospital.

The causes of both fires are under investigation, but one theory mentions that diesel spillage from the morning fire may have sparked the afternoon fire. The sunken yachts, waste fuel and fire-fighting materials all remain confined at the facility.

Although superyachts up to 80m LOA can dock at Port Forum, the two fires both broke out in the inner dock area, along the five jetties where smaller boats dock.