Fire on cargo ship carrying electric cars near Alaska, crew rescued

A fire broke out on the cargo ship Morning Midas, loaded with 3000 cars including 800 electric vehicles, hundreds of kilometers off the coast of Alaska. The 22-member crew escaped in a lifeboat and was rescued by a nearby merchant ship, the Cosco Hellas. No injuries were reported.

The 183-meter-long ship was en route to Mexico when the fire started near the Aleutian Islands in the North Pacific. Photos show a large plume of smoke at the rear of the ship, originating from the deck where electric vehicles were stored. The London-based company Zodiac Maritime confirmed the incident.

The crew was unable to control the flames and had to abandon the ship. The Cosco Hellas picked them up approximately 500 kilometers southwest of Adak Island.

Zodiac Maritime stated that authorities have been notified and they are working closely with emergency services. A tugboat has been deployed to assist in salvage and firefighting operations, with priorities on crew safety and environmental protection.

The incident recalls the Fremantle Highway fire two years ago, where a similar cargo ship carrying electric cars caught fire north of Ameland, resulting in one fatality.