Tanker collides with riverboat with 129 passengers on board in New Orleans: Officials
The incident occurred Friday on the Mississippi River.
NEW ORLEANS -- Rescue operations are underway after a tanker collided with a docked riverboat on the Mississippi River near the Port of New Orleans, officials said Friday.
Approximately 129 passengers, plus crew members, were on board the riverboat, American Heritage, when the Atlantic Asphalt tanker collided with it, according to the Port of New Orleans.
The tanker struck the riverboat broadside and hard, sources said.The docked cruise ship capsized and is actively sinking, and rescues are underway in the water, the sources said.
The collision occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time Friday, according to the Port of New Orleans. The riverboat had docked approximately two hours earlier to begin passenger disembarkation, it said.
"Multiple individuals have been rescued, and search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing," a city spokesperson said.
The number of injuries and the cause of the collision have not yet been confirmed, according to the Port of New Orleans, saying in a statement, "This remains an active and evolving incident."
American Cruise Lines, the riverboat's operator, said in a statement, "We are in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities. Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved."
Multiple agencies, including the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard, are on scene conducting rescue and response operations, officials said.
"The river is closed to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 while responders assess the situation and conduct response operations," the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he is heading to New Orleans.
"We are aware of the incident on the Mississippi and we are in close contact with local officials and law enforcement," he said on social media.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
