A fatal fire broke out on a cargo ship carrying almost 3,000 cars off the coast of the Dutch island of Ameland July 25, leaving one sailor dead and 22 injured. The 22 surviving crew members were taken to a nearby hospital with burns, breathing problems and other injuries, according to BBC News.

Photos shared by the Dutch Coastguard showed the Panamanian-flagged vessel engulfed in smoke. The coastguard said the fire could rage on for days.

The cargo ship departed from the north German Port of Bremerhaven for Egypt around 3:00 p.m. local time on July 25. The vessel ran into trouble overnight just 17 miles north of Ameland in the Wadden Sea. Though crew members attempted to put out the fire themselves, they were overwhelmed by the flames and eventually forced to evacuate the ship.

A spokesperson for the Dutch Coastguard said the fire was likely caused by one of the 25 electric vehicles being transported by the vessel.

As of July 26, a massive salvage operation is underway in a part of the North Sea designated as a World Heritage site.

The immediate challenge for emergency crews is to put out the fire while keeping the ship afloat. Rescue teams are dousing the side of the boat with water but are trying not to pour too much liquid on the ship so that it doesn’t sink.

Salvage boats continue to circle the vessel in preparation for any possible scenarios.