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Florida Cruise Ship Catches on Fire

FLORIDA – As reported by the Miami Herald: "A fire broke out in the engine room of a casino cruise ship carrying 158 people near Fort Lauderdale Sunday afternoon, leaving about 12 people feeling ill and in need of medical treatment.

"The fire started about 12:40 p.m. in the engine room of the 160-foot SunCruz Casino ship, which left at noon from Martha's Restaurant on the Intracoastal Waterway in Hollywood for a five-hour ride through international waters, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

"…The ship's fire alarm sounded about 40 minutes after departure. As smoke billowed upward through the ship, 34 crew members ushered the 114 passengers to the top deck, where they all donned orange life vests.

"The ship's captain immediately cut the engine.

"…'The smoke was so bad I couldn't breathe,' said Diane Sodano of Lake Worth, who was given oxygen when she left the ship. `People were falling over one another because you couldn't get away from it. I was terrified, and the crew wasn't prepared for anything like that.'

"…Passengers on the ship did not gamble because the fire started before they could reach international waters.

"…The Coast Guard is investigating what caused the fire, said port operations officer Jennifer Bobin…"

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