Evacuation Of Hantavirus-Hit Ship Starts In Canary Islands

The occupants of a cruise ship struck by a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has sparked international concern began leaving the vessel in Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday, AFP journalists saw.

“The disembarkation of the passengers and the Spanish crew member has started” from the MV Hondius at Tenerife, the health ministry said on Telegram. AFP reporters saw five people on a small boat that had left the ship and was heading for the port.

According to the health minister, passengers will be divided into groups by nationality and ferried to the coast in small boats. Charter planes will be on the tarmac at the local airport, ready to repatriate them to their home countries.

Fourteen Spanish nationals will be the first to disembark, followed by those flown out by the Netherlands, including Dutch, Greek and German passengers, as well as part of the crew.

The Atlantic archipelago’s regional authorities have consistently resisted taking in the ship, which has suffered three deaths and was only authorised to anchor offshore instead of docking in the port.

But all passengers are asymptomatic and were undergoing a final medical assessment before their disembarkation, Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia told reporters on Tenerife shortly before the operation was due to start.