Tourists and crew rescued in Galapagos after boat sinks

Authorities in Ecuador say 25 people saved after boat caught fire and sank off Galapagos Islands

Port authorities said the people aboard the boat were from the US, Canada and Ecuador. Reuters

A boat with 15 tourists and 10 crew members caught fire and sank off the Galapagos Islands on Wednesday, but Ecuadorean authorities said all aboard have been rescued.

The Ecuadorean navy said authorities ordered a nearby vessel to carry out the rescue after the distressed Cormorant I reported a fire in the engine room.

The boat, which had passed all technical inspections this year, sank at about 7am.

Port authorities said the people aboard the boat were from the US, Canada and Ecuador. The navy's statement said they were being taken to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island for medical care.

The navy said it had activated a contingency plan in the event of a fuel spill but a statement from the Galapagos National Park ruled out that possibility, saying “the diesel with which it operated was consumed during the fire”.

The park said environmental officials will still conduct an on-site inspection.

A dive boat sank in the archipelago two weeks ago, spilling diesel into the sea.

The Galapagos, about 1,000 kilometres from the Ecuadorean coast, is a magnet for ecological tourism. It was declared a Natural World Heritage Site in 1979 due to its diversity of plants and animals, which helped inspire Charles Darwin to elaborate the theory of evolution.

'Misty mountain' – first place in the Landscape category. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Fisher Houston

'Welcome to Galapagos' – joint second place in Up Close and Personal category. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Leighton Lum

The winner of the Up Close and Personal category is this Espanola marine iguana. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Leighton Lum

Second place overall went to this image 'Curious Sea Lions'. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Leighton Lum

Animal in Action second place winner. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Leighton Lum

The overall competition winner is this image of Nazca boobies. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Leighton Lum

The photo at second place in Coastal and Marine category. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust

'Land Iguana With the Munchies' took first place in the Animals in Action category. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust

Second place in Urban Life category. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Juan Jaramillo

An entry of lava rock formation in Santiago island. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Peter Topley

This marine iguana image called 'Paradise' placed third overall and first in Coastal and Marine category. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Sam Whitton

'A Flower for You' was given second place in the Birds of Galapagos category.Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Julie Gregoire

'Do Not Disturb', the photo of a sea lion on Isabela Island ranked first in the Urban Life category. Courtesy Galapagos Conservation Trust / Fisher Houston.