RESCUERS RUSH TO EVACUATE PASSENGERS IN ROUGH SEAS OFF NORWAY
Acruise ship off the western coast of Norway suffered an engine failure, prompting an emergency operation to evacuate the 1,373 people on board, officials said.
Police in the province of More og Romsdal, in the far north-west of Norway, said the Viking Sky sent out a distress signal on Saturday afternoon. Operator Viking Ocean Cruises later confirmed its ship was carrying 915 passengers and 458 crew.
Broadcaster NRK showed footage of the Viking Sky being battered in heavy waves not far from a rocky stretch of coastline known as Hustadvika.
Several helicopters and vessels were aiding in the evacuation of those on board, the Norwegian maritime rescue service said.
By 01:45 am (0045 GMT) the first 230 passengers had been brought ashore, police said. They were being housed in an emergency centre in the town of Brynhallen, about 500 km north of Oslo.
Police added that 16 people had been taken to three hospitals with injuries.
Three of those hospitalised were seriously injured, news agency NTB reported.
The rescue operation hit a snag when a cargo ship that was coming to the aid of the Viking Sky also experienced engine problems, leaving it stranded in the same area at the cruise ship.
Two helicopters were diverted to the freighter to evacuate its nine crew members, police and Norwegian media reported.the Viking Sky was christened in 2017 and sails under a Norwegian flag.