Oil tanker collides with cruise ship in New Orleans; all 180 people aboard rescued

In depth

An oil tanker struck a cruise ship moored on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. The ship tilted onto its side and partly sank in the water, and rescue operations were carried out at the site. All 180 people aboard the ship were rescued.

The tanker, about 158 meters long, apparently lost its steering ability before the collision. The Coast Guard closed a section of the river to traffic during the rescue operations.

At the end of the rescue, it was reported that 32 people had been taken to hospitals and that none of them was in critical condition. Mayor Helena Moreno said at a press conference near the scene: "This is truly a miracle on the Mississippi."