Nearly 100 passengers evacuated from Hantavirus-hit cruise ship in Tenerife

Evacuations from the cruise ship at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak began on Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands on May 11, with Spanish authorities confirming that the first phase of the operation had been completed successfully.

Speaking at a news conference at the port, Spanish Health Minister Mónica García said the first day of evacuations from the MV Hondius had concluded, with 94 passengers of 19 nationalities disembarking from the vessel, CNN reports. 

García stated that the evacuation operation went “according to plan.”

According to the health minister, the final two evacuation flights — transporting passengers to Australia and the Netherlands — are scheduled to depart on May 11. Those passengers are expected to remain on board the ship for another night before departure.

“The plane heading for Australia is expected to depart around 6 p.m. local time [1 p.m. ET] on Monday,” García added.

By Sabina Mammadli