BLAZE PANIC Shocking moment tourist boat with 110 on board goes up in vast inferno sending visitors scrambling into water off Turkey

THIS is the terrifying moment a massive blaze erupted on a tourist boat carrying 110 people as visitors scramble to safety.

Dramatic footage shows the vessel engulfed in flames after it caught fire before sinking off the coast of Marmaris, Turkey.

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Tourists can be seen swimming desperately from the blazeCredit: X/@MekkiKocabas

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Onlookers watch in panic as the fire engulfs the boatCredit: X/@MekkiKocabas

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Thick plumes of smoke filled the airCredit: X/@MekkiKocabas

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The boat's infrastructure got burnt to a crisp before it sankCredit: X/@MekkiKocabas

The 20-meter tourist boat dubbed 'Eagles' sank on Thursday afternoon after a raging fire broke out.

The cause is currently unknown, but it's claimed the blaze began in the vessel's engine room.

Almost all passengers managed to escape the deadly fire but there are a predicted seven individuals injured who have been taken to hospital.

Three of the injured are reportedly in critical condition, Protothema reports.The ships owner and captain are allegedly in custody.

Harrowing footage shows people swimming away in panic as some bystanders on long boards scramble to help.

Many tourists are even picked up by other boats to save them.

Ginormous flames can be seen pouring from every angle of the boat as smoke turns the blue sky grey.The sea is seen littered with life jackets as people from yachts watch on in horror.

The clip shows how the boat became skeletal from being burn almost to dust before sinking.Turkey has witnessed 74 wildfires this year, destroying around 31,900 acres of land, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

The unpredictability of wildfires means it's important for travellers to have insurance that covers natural disasters or emergencies, which could save them from financial loss if their holiday is disrupted or cut short.

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Smoke rises over the forest in the Selcuk district of Izmir, TurkeyCredit: Getty

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Authorities worked to extinguish the flames with helicopters