Fire Breaks Out on Cargo Ship Near Gotska Sandön

A fire broke out on a cargo ship near Gotska Sandön, an island located in the Baltic Sea. According to Jonas Franzén, press spokesperson for the Swedish Maritime Administration’s maritime and air rescue center, the automatic fire suppression system on board appears to have successfully extinguished the fire. He provided this information around 10 p.m. on Saturday. The fire is believed to have originated in the ship’s engine room. At approximately 9:10 p.m., a person on the vessel issued a mayday distress call, as reported by Aftonbladet. In response to the incident, the Swedish Maritime Administration has placed two helicopters on standby in case an evacuation of crew members becomes necessary. As of the latest update, there are no reports of injuries or any individuals harmed during the event. The Swedish Maritime Administration continues to monitor the situation. Gotska Sandön is situated north of Gotland and is designated as part of Sweden’s national park system. The island is known for its isolated location, rugged natural landscape, and protected environmental status. The area is not close to major population centers, emergency maritime responses in this region prioritize the distance from mainland resources and the ecological sensitivity of the location.