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'Miracle on Mississippi' - All passengers rescued after New Orleans cruise ship collision
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- A cruise ship, American Heritage, was struck by the cargo vessel Atlantic Asphalt in the Mississippi River near New Orleans, causing the ship to lie on its side and resulting in 32 people being hospitalized with non-critical injuries.
- Approximately 130 passengers and crew were safely rescued, with no one reported missing, an outcome officials described as a "miracle on the Mississippi."
- The collision's cause is under investigation, with the US Coast Guard citing a possible loss of steering as a factor.
- First responders, including tugboat operators and police, acted swiftly to assist passengers as the ship took on water and began listing, leading to the closure of the Mississippi River during the rescue operation.
- Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and dramatic, comparing the sound of the collision to a war movie and noting the distress of passengers trying to escape the sinking vessel.
