One Crew Member Dead, Passengers Evacuated After Fire on Cruise Ship World Legacy

SINGAPORE – A fire broke out on the Liberia-flagged cruise ship World Legacy early on February 20, 2026, resulting in the death of one crew member and the evacuation of all 271 passengers. The vessel was en route to Singapore at the time of the incident.

Fire Breaks Out on Deck Nine

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was informed of the fire at approximately 4:00 am (Singapore Time) on February 20, 2026. The blaze originated in the lounge area on Deck Nine of the World Legacy according to the MPA. The fire was initially brought under control by the ship’s crew and later extinguished by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) marine firefighters.

Casualties and Evacuation

Tragically, one Indonesian crew member, a 23-year-old laundry attendant identified only by his initials PL, died as a result of the fire. He was found collapsed in the lobby of Deck Nine by firefighters and pronounced dead at 4:30 am due to cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to asphyxiation as reported by the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. The embassy is working with Singaporean authorities and the ship’s agent to facilitate the repatriation of his remains and ensure his family receives financial entitlements.

There were 388 crew members onboard, none of whom were Singaporean. All 271 passengers, including 139 Singaporeans, were safely evacuated from the vessel as confirmed by AsiaOne. Four individuals were taken to a hospital for further medical evaluation.

Passenger Account

A passenger, identified as Quynh, described the experience as “a truly terrible and traumatising experience.” She recounted being alerted to the fire around 4:20 am and directed to Deck Seven. Despite assurances from crew members that the situation was under control, she observed smoke spreading to lower decks. Passengers were instructed to don life vests and move to the open decks. According to The Straits Times, passengers waited for several hours before being rescued, with some experiencing smoke inhalation, headaches, and giddiness.

Vessel Status and Investigation

The World Legacy is currently anchored at Raffles Reserved Anchorage according to the MPA. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The vessel, which entered service in December 2025, previously operated as a casino boat as noted by The Maritime Executive and was repurposed as a party cruise ship.

Key Takeaways

• A fire broke out on the World Legacy cruise ship on February 20, 2026, while en route to Singapore.
• One Indonesian crew member died as a result of the fire.
• All 271 passengers, including 139 Singaporeans, were safely evacuated.
• The cause of the fire is under investigation.
• The vessel is currently anchored at Raffles Reserved Anchorage.