In a carefully coordinated health operation, passengers have begun disembarking from the MV Hondius, a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak, after the vessel anchored off the coast of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
The evacuation process began early Sunday morning following the ship's departure from Cape Verde on May 6. The first flight carrying evacuated passengers departed Tenerife for Madrid, where they are being transported to a military hospital for further monitoring and care.
According to Spanish authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions, none of the more than 140 individuals currently on board the MV Hondius are exhibiting symptoms of the virus. To ensure maximum safety, Spanish nationals were the first to be ferried off the ship using small launch boats, which transported groups of five to ten people at a time.
The evacuation effort is expected to continue through Monday, encompassing passengers and crew members from over 20 different nationalities. The scene at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife underscored the severity of the biological risk, with both disembarking passengers and port personnel outfitted in full protective gear, including respirators, face masks, and hazmat suits.
While the current group on board remains asymptomatic, the outbreak has already taken a toll. Reports indicate that three people have died and five passengers who had previously left the ship have been confirmed as infected with the hantavirus, a condition known to cause life-threatening illness.
The operation remains a priority for health officials as they work to contain the virus and ensure the well-being of all international travelers involved in the voyage.
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Passengers start disembarking from hantavirus-hit cruise ship
cgtn.com
