Blaze on Panama-registered Fremantle Highway suspected to have been caused by electric car, with fire potentially lasting days.

A fire aboard a cargo ship carrying nearly 3,000 vehicles off the coast of the Netherlands has resulted in one death and several injuries. The blaze, which broke out on Tuesday night, occurred on the Fremantle Highway, a 199-meter Panama-registered vessel traveling from Germany to Egypt. The incident forced several crew members to jump into the sea as the fire spread quickly.

The ship’s owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd, has speculated that an electric car on board might have been the cause of the fire. The company stated that there was “a good chance that the fire started with electric cars,” as approximately 25 electric vehicles were being transported. However, the investigation is ongoing, and the exact cause has not yet been confirmed.

As the fire continues to rage, rescue ships are spraying water on the vessel, trying to cool it down without overloading the ship and risking its sinking. The Dutch coastguard has warned that the fire could last for several days, and efforts are focused on stabilizing the ship, which is now being towed away from shipping lanes.

The Fremantle Highway is now anchored near the Waddenzee area, close to Ameland, one of the Frisian Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site. If the ship sinks, it would pose a significant environmental threat to the area, which is home to a rich diversity of species.

At least seven crew members were forced to abandon ship and jump into the water. Some sustained injuries, including burns, broken bones, and breathing issues. Tragically, one crew member lost their life in the blaze. A helicopter was deployed to airlift the remaining crew members to safety.

The fire follows a series of similar incidents involving cargo ships carrying vehicles, including a deadly fire in New Jersey earlier this month and another blaze in Portugal’s Azores islands last year, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in the shipping industry.