Fire at Cửa Đại Port in Hội An ancient town, Quảng Nam Province. Eight boats were damaged on Monday morning (October 10). Photo courtesy of Cửa Đại Border Guard station

HỘI AN — Eight boats including three wooden vessels that were docked at Cửa Đại Port – 5km from the ancient Hội An Town – were destroyed in a fire around 3.20am on October 10.

The Cửa Đại Border guard station said it was likely the fire started on a wooden boat before spreading widely to two other wooden boats and three speed canoes.

Firefighters managed to contain the blaze and minimise damage to other boats docked at the site.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, although ship owners estimate the cost of the damage at around VNĐ20 billion (US$870,000).

Sea routes between Cửa Đại and Chàm Islands, off the coast of Hội An, are already overloaded, with a fleet of 152 boats including 145 speed boats travelling between Cửa Đại Port in Hội An and the Islands (a distance of 20km).

A wreck of a speed boat is salvaged on the beach of Cửa Đại of Quảng Nam Province. Firemen and local border guard force joined to rescue other boats from the fire. Eight boats were damaged. Photo courtesy of Cửa Đại Border Guard Station

The islands, which were recognised as a World Biosphere Reserve, by UNESCO in 2009, often host up to 4,200 visitors per day on public holidays, far exceeding the daily limit of 2,000 tourists.

Earlier this year, a canoe, which was travelling from the Islands to the port at high speed, capsized killing 17 people. — VNS