Costa cruise ship adrift after catching fire

Fire has broken out on an Italian cruise ship off the Seychelles islands and the vessel is adrift, but all passengers are safe, Coast Guards said today.

Italian Coast Guard commander Cosimo Nicastro said that the ship's captain has said the blaze was quickly extinguished, but the Costa Allegra's engines are not working.

The Italian Coast Guard has dispatched cargo ships near the Allegra to help, and the Seychelles is sending a motorboat, a plane and two tugs to the scene.

The ship owner Costa Crociere, the same company which ran the doomed Costa Concordia, said there were no injuries or casualties among the 636 passengers and 413 crew members.