Passengers Airlifted From Crippled Cruise Ship in Storm off Norway

• 03.24.2019, 09:41
•  Europe,  World

The maritime rescue service said the Viking Sky, with 1,373 passengers and crew on board, had sent out a mayday signal as it had been drifting toward land in the Norwegian Sea, according Reuters. 

The ship was carrying 915 passengers, of which “a large number” were from the United States and Britain, the rescue service said, although it declined to be more specific.

The crew was able to restart one of the ship’s four engines and the vessel was at anchor about 2 km (1.24 miles) from land and the passengers were considered safe although the evacuation was set to continue throughout the night.

Some 155 people had been evacuated by 2140 GMT, rescue service spokesman Per Fjeld said.

The sea was very rough and eight of those pulled from the ship had suffered injuries, with three of those considered severe