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| Cruise ship evacuated off Greece | Cruise ship evacuated off Greece |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An operation to evacuate up to 1,600 people from a stricken cruise ship is under way off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini. | An operation to evacuate up to 1,600 people from a stricken cruise ship is under way off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini. |
| The Greek-flagged Sea Diamond issued a distress signal after running aground and is taking on water, according to local news reports. | The Greek-flagged Sea Diamond issued a distress signal after running aground and is taking on water, according to local news reports. |
| Passengers were reported to be boarding lifeboats and abandoning the ship. | |
| More than a dozen ships and five navy rescue helicopters are helping with the evacuation effort. | More than a dozen ships and five navy rescue helicopters are helping with the evacuation effort. |
| The ship was about one nautical mile (1.8km) off the coast of the island in the eastern Aegean Sea, reports said. | |
| Many of the 1,200 passengers on board are from Germany and the United States, local news reports said. | Many of the 1,200 passengers on board are from Germany and the United States, local news reports said. |
| There are also up to 400 crew. | There are also up to 400 crew. |
| Weather good | |
| "Some passengers have already reached the island and no-one has been hurt," an official at the Santorini coastguard told Reuters. | "Some passengers have already reached the island and no-one has been hurt," an official at the Santorini coastguard told Reuters. |
| Louis Cruise Lines, which runs the ship, said a "controlled evacuation" was under way but that there was no danger to passengers. | |
| "The boat was attempting to moor but ran aground in shallow waters," a local boatman told private Antenna television. | "The boat was attempting to moor but ran aground in shallow waters," a local boatman told private Antenna television. |
| "Weather conditions are good, but the ship is taking on water and has listed heavily," he added. | "Weather conditions are good, but the ship is taking on water and has listed heavily," he added. |
| The ship left the port of Piraeus on Monday and was due to return on Friday, officials said. | |
| Have you just been evacuated from the ship? Do you know anyone who was on board? Send us your thoughts and experiences using the form below: | Have you just been evacuated from the ship? Do you know anyone who was on board? Send us your thoughts and experiences using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |