Footage shows smoke billowing from 300-tonne passenger vessel with 151 people on board

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A pleasure boat with 151 people on board has caught fire and careered into a pier on the river Thames.



London fire brigade was called at about 3.45pm to reports of a fire on the white triple-decker boat Erasmus, which crashed into pilings near Canary Wharf pier.

Footage posted online by passersby appeared to show smoke billowing from the back of the 300-tonne passenger vessel as it veered across the river before crashing into the bank.

London 999 Feed (@999London) #CanaryWharf River Ferry has crashed near Canary Wharf @RNLI and @MPSonthewater on scene

Vid @lhexin pic.twitter.com/zMBh3L9fVZ

A small fire broke out in the engine room, and was extinguished with a powder extinguisher before fire crews arrived, the fire service said. Six crew and 142 passengers were evacuated, while three crew remained on board.

Transport for London’s river branch tweeted that its services were affected by the incident.