The tanker Atlantic Asphalt collided with the river cruise ship American Heritage near New Orleans, after which the liner capsized and partially sank. All 197 passengers and crew members were found and rescued, the city authorities and the Port of New Orleans reported.
The accident occurred on 13 November at around 12:30 local time (23:30 Ashgabat time).
“At this moment, according to the information we have, there is not a single person listed as missing,” New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno told journalists, calling the incident a “miracle on the Mississippi”.
According to her, the tanker lost control before the collision. The cruise liner was moored at the port’s berths at the time.
The first rescuers arrived almost immediately.
“It was an ‘all hands on deck’ approach: the port police were the first to respond, showing simply incredible bravery by going into the water to start pulling people out,” the mayor said, also thanking the firefighters and other vessels in the area that came to help.
Footage of the incident, which has spread on social media, shows the moment of the collision, after which the American Heritage keeled over onto its side. Other videos show passengers in life jackets making their way to safety.
