A dozen passengers on board Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas were injured after an explosion in the port of Gilbraltar yesterday.
The ship, carrying more than 4,000 passengers, felt the force of the explosion in a nearby fuel storage tank.
Royal Caribbean said the 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and received medical treatment on board.
The ship made an emergency departure, leaving two passengers ashore. They were due to be reunited with other passengers later.
See Utube video (right) showing the ship leaving the port as dense black smoke billows from Fuel Depot North Mole.
According to reports, a Spanish workman was seriously injured and policeman received burns while attempting to rescue him.
Flights were temporalily suspended at Gibraltar airport due to the heavy smoke.
By Bev Fearis
