Roughly 130 individuals aboard a docked cruise ship in New Orleans were safely evacuated following a collision with a tanker vessel.
The paddlewheeler American Heritage ended up resting on its side in the Mississippi River after being struck by the cargo ship Atlantic Asphalt.
The accident resulted in 32 individuals from the damaged riverboat being hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while all persons were accounted for, prompting officials to describe the outcome as a miracle on the Mississippi.
While the precise trigger for the accident is still being probed, US Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham stated that indications point to a potential loss of steering control.
During a press briefing, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno credited emergency personnel with taking immediate action to assist.
Moreno noted that no individuals remain missing, calling it a true miracle on the Mississippi.
Port of New Orleans Chief Melanie Montroll reported that emergency calls regarding the incident were received at approximately 13:30 EST on Friday as bystanders attempted to aid passengers evacuating the taking-on-water vessel.
The Port of New Orleans confirmed that the American Heritage carried roughly 129 passengers along with crew members at the time of the impact.
Mayor Moreno explained that passengers started leaving the American Cruise Lines vessel as it began to list and subsequently tipped onto its side.
Tugboat crews, law enforcement, and other emergency personnel deployed to the scene, prompting authorities to close the Mississippi River to facilitate search operations.
The American Heritage was concluding an eight-day voyage visiting various Mississippi River locations across Louisiana and Mississippi.
President Donald Trump shared on Truth Social that the rescue effort was an incredible job.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin noted that the US Coast Guard also assisted local emergency response efforts.
Governor Jeff Landry similarly described the rescue as a miracle on the Mississippi due to the total count of individuals safely recovered from the cruise vessel.
Landry emphasized that vessels have maintained a safe record on the Mississippi River for years and promised a thorough investigation into the incident.
Eyewitness Jamie Holford recounted to the BBC US partner CBS that he observed the cruise ship strike the dock following the impact.
Holford described the sound as resembling a war movie with massive amounts of crushing steel, comparing the visual scene to something out of the Titanic.
He further observed passengers and crew shouting and weeping while attempting to evacuate the sinking watercraft.
According to its online information, the American Heritage accommodates up to 150 guests and includes a glass-walled dining room, a fitness area, and three passenger lounges.
The vessel, constructed in 2015, features a minimum of four decks.