US Coast Guard responds to fire on ferry with 500 people aboard near San Juan, Puerto Rico

(Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard responded early on Wednesday to a fire that erupted on a ferry boat off Puerto Rico, with more than 500 people aboard, officials said.

U.S. Coast Guard and local crews were helping passengers and crew members flee the vessel burning about one mile off of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, at about 9:30 a.m. EDT (1346 GMT), the Coast Guard said on Twitter.

No deaths or injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the fire was not known.

Coast Guard officials could not immediately be reached for further comment.

(Reporting by Laila Kearney in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

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