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| Cruise ship evacuated off Greece | Cruise ship evacuated off Greece |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An operation to evacuate up to 1,600 people from a stricken cruise ship has been completed off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini. | An operation to evacuate up to 1,600 people from a stricken cruise ship has been completed off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini. |
| The Greek-flagged Sea Diamond issued a distress signal after running aground and starting to take on water. | The Greek-flagged Sea Diamond issued a distress signal after running aground and starting to take on water. |
| Passengers told the BBC they were taken from the ship on lifeboats. They said the evacuation proceeded calmly. | Passengers told the BBC they were taken from the ship on lifeboats. They said the evacuation proceeded calmly. |
| A flotilla of commercial ships plus six navy helicopters and various navy vessels assisted the rescue. | A flotilla of commercial ships plus six navy helicopters and various navy vessels assisted the rescue. |
| The ship was about one nautical mile (1.8km) off the coast of the island in the eastern Aegean Sea. | The ship was about one nautical mile (1.8km) off the coast of the island in the eastern Aegean Sea. |
| After running aground several hundred metres from shore in Santorini's volcanic lagoon, it was towed off the rocks for the rescue to take place. | After running aground several hundred metres from shore in Santorini's volcanic lagoon, it was towed off the rocks for the rescue to take place. |
| The weather was good and the sea calm. | The weather was good and the sea calm. |
| The passengers were to be collected from Santorini by a sister ship and taken to Piraeus, where they would have ended the cruise on Saturday anyway. | The passengers were to be collected from Santorini by a sister ship and taken to Piraeus, where they would have ended the cruise on Saturday anyway. |
| Many of the 1,200 passengers are from Germany and the United States, and about 20 are believed to be from the UK, said Louis Cruise Lines, the Cypriot firm which runs the ship. | Many of the 1,200 passengers are from Germany and the United States, and about 20 are believed to be from the UK, said Louis Cruise Lines, the Cypriot firm which runs the ship. |
| There are also up to 400 crew. | There are also up to 400 crew. |
| American passenger Cliff Jones said: "We were pulling into the port and I think the ship hit a few rocks. | American passenger Cliff Jones said: "We were pulling into the port and I think the ship hit a few rocks. |
| "The ship tilted so far to the right the first five floors were flooded. We just waited at the top to be rescued," he told the BBC. | "The ship tilted so far to the right the first five floors were flooded. We just waited at the top to be rescued," he told the BBC. |
| THE SEA DIAMOND Gross tonnage: 22,412Length: 142.95mDecks: 10Cabins: 584 Earlier, Santorini's regional governor, Chrysanthos Roussis, said: "We managed to get the ship away from the rocks and tugged the vessel toward the main harbour. The condition appears to have been stabilised, and the evacuation effort is going well so far." | THE SEA DIAMOND Gross tonnage: 22,412Length: 142.95mDecks: 10Cabins: 584 Earlier, Santorini's regional governor, Chrysanthos Roussis, said: "We managed to get the ship away from the rocks and tugged the vessel toward the main harbour. The condition appears to have been stabilised, and the evacuation effort is going well so far." |
| The ship had been on a short tour of the Greek islands. | The ship had been on a short tour of the Greek islands. |
| Another ship operated by Louis, the Calypso, had to be towed into Southampton on the south coast of England last year after an engine fire sparked a major alert in the English Channel. | Another ship operated by Louis, the Calypso, had to be towed into Southampton on the south coast of England last year after an engine fire sparked a major alert in the English Channel. |
| 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 |