Overview
- The blaze started in the ship’s galley at around 3:30am on Monday, June 29, 2026, and crew activated safety protocols that led to a full evacuation of all 163 people on board.
- Local and specialist firefighting teams deployed dozens of responders and continued operations into the morning while commanders described firefighting as complex because of the vessel’s metal structure.
- No injuries have been reported and the Calvados prefecture said an emergency doctor is on site to monitor health needs and help replace prescriptions for mainly elderly passengers.
- Passengers were taken to Honfleur town hall for shelter and CroisiEurope has arranged hotel accommodation with plans to repatriate customers as soon as possible.
- Authorities have opened an official investigation into the cause of the fire and the MS Botticelli is reported to have suffered extensive damage, which will shape recovery and safety reviews for river cruise operations.