Spain Evacuates Passengers From Hantavirus-Stricken Cruise Ship

Spanish authorities have begun evacuating passengers from a cruise ship anchored near Tenerife following concerns over a hantavirus outbreak onboard.

Health Minister Mónica García said the evacuation operation was proceeding normally and that passengers aboard the MS Hondius were not showing symptoms.

Images from the scene showed passengers wearing white medical face masks while remaining on deck or inside cabin windows as evacuation procedures got underway.

Passengers were transported to shore in small groups and later transferred by bus to a local airport. Spanish officials said travellers were being grouped according to nationality before boarding chartered flights arranged to return them to their home countries.

Footage from the airport showed health personnel in protective suits assisting passengers before boarding procedures.

The first group to disembark included 14 Spanish nationals. Additional evacuation flights were arranged for passengers from the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Authorities said the final evacuation flight, carrying passengers bound for Australia, is expected to depart on Monday.