Panic as 77 passengers and crew evacuated from a ferry in Marseille after 'explosion'

A ferry has been evacuated at a French port after an explosion was heard as passengers were boarding.

The incident has taken place in Joliette, in Marseille, this morning on the 9am service to Sardinia.

Reports in France say that 77 passengers and crew were forced to flee the Jean Nicoli ferry after the explosion was heard.

France has drafted in heavily armed soldiers and police to its ports in fear of ISIS jihadis boarding ferries.

according to stories arising from Daily mail  The specialist forces have been called upon following intelligence warnings that ferries could be at risk. 

A bomb squad and dog unit arrived at Joliette to investigate the cause of the explosion.

A senior police officer told local media: 'The boat does not leak, so we do not understand what happened. It is not known if the explosion was held on the ship.'