DHUBA, 24 June — An Egyptian sailor was killed and several others were injured when a Saudi vessel with 896 passengers on board caught fire on its way to the Egyptian port Safaga.

The ship, Al-Salam-90, was hit by a massive fire about 30 minutes after it had left the northwestern Saudi port of Dhuba Saturday evening. The ship returned to port and the passengers were evacuated as firefighters battled the blaze.

“Several people were taken to hospital for treatment. One crew member died due to suffocation,” an official source at the Saudi Ports Authority said.

Al-Salam, owned by Al-Balagha Shipping Company, was on its daily trip to Safaga carrying 896 passengers, 68 sailors and 60 cars and trucks. A local Arabic daily said the fire had destroyed all vehicles on board.

According to sailors on board, the fire broke out as a result of electrical short circuit. “Soon after the incident, the captain took action to return the ship to Dhuba port,” they said.

The port declared an emergency as per the directives of Tabuk Governor Prince Fahd ibn Sultan to handle the fire-hit ship and its passengers.

Firefighters, personnel from Civil Defense and the port, first-aid service teams of Dhuba Hospital, Directorate of Health in Tabuk and Al-Wajh Hospital as well as ambulance vans of Saudi Red Crescent Society took part in the rescue operation.

“All passengers were evacuated soon after the ship was brought back to port,” the official source said.

Firefighters had to toil hard to put out the blaze as the fire was spreading uncontrollably due to the presence of several cars and trucks on board. The ship was made of wood, iron and sponge which sources said worsened the intensity of the fire.

The ship’s maximum capacity was 5,000 passengers and 150 cars. The shipping company refused to give any information on the ship’s safety conditions and facilities.

Egyptian Consul in Saudi Arabia Ahmad Al-Bedaiwi said the condition of the injured passengers was satisfactory. “We’ll send a team to Dhuba to make sure they are alright,” he added.

He commended Prince Fahd ibn Sultan for taking timely action to save the passengers and crew members.

Dhuba is the newest port in the Kingdom.

Established in 1995, it operates three ships daily to Safaga and Ghardaka. Last year it catered for about 800,000 passengers, mostly Egyptians.