SS Sardinia was a passenger-cargo ship which caught fire off Malta's Grand Harbour on 25 November 1908, resulting in at least 118 deaths.
The vessel had been built in 1888 and had previously been known as Gulf of Corcovado and Paolo V. The Sardinia had a tonnage of 2361 GRT or 1482 NRT.
[1] On 25 November 1908, the Sardinia left Malta's Grand Harbour en route to Alexandria at 09.45am.
[3] Soon after the vessel left the harbour, fumes were seen coming out of a ventilator on the ship's port side.
[3] The crew attempted to fight the fire by hosing it with water down the ventilator, but this effort was futile.
[3] When the vessel was about 200 metres (660 ft) away from the breakwater, thick smoke was seen coming out of her starboard side.
[4] The fire probably started when embers from a pilgrim's cooking brazier came into contact with the cargo of nitrate held in the vessel's No.
[4] Multiple explosions tore through the vessel and blew off hatches, probably causing loss of life.
[3] Strong winds made the fire worse, and it reached the top deck[4] and destroyed the ship's lifeboats.
[3] The ship was left to burn out on the rocks[1] as thousands of people gathered on the harbour's fortifications to witness the disaster.