NZ tour boat fire forces 60 passengers and crew to jump overboard

A luxury cruiser boat carrying 53 passengers and seven crew erupted into flames after a motor exploded, according to a witness.

Those onboard had to jump into the water to escape the fierce blaze that occurred off the coast of Whakatane, in New Zealand’s North Island.

A successful rescue operation involving police vessels and local boats recovered all persons onboard, with two transported to hospital following the incident.

One was treated for smoke inhalation, while the other suffered a minor injury when jumping overboard.

The boat, which is believed to belong to White Island Tours, could not be saved and subsequently sunk.

A witness told the New Zealand Herald he saw the motor explode.

"All of a sudden white smoke came out of all the windows, and the top of the boat,” he said.

About thirty minutes later, the flames were so big they could be seen from the shore.

Twitter user Mitch Kinney saw the events unfold and wrote that the fire ‘was pretty intense’.

He believes the loss of the tour boat will impact tourism in Whakatane.

A helicopter did a sweep of the area to confirm the rescue was complete.

Police took to Twitter to praise local boat owners for their involvement in the rescue mission.

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