A luxury cruise liner has hit an object and is sinking off Argentina's coast in the Antarctic Ocean, the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said Friday.
Around 100 passengers and 54 crew members have been evacuated to lifeboats and a major rescue operation is under way, an MCA spokesman said.
The captain and his first officer are still on board the vessel, which is currently listing at about 25 degrees.
The Explorer, built in 1969, is reported to have hit an object, possibly an iceberg, in the Antarctic Ocean, near the South Shetland Islands.
British coastguards are coordinating the rescue operation from Falmouth, England, along with services in Virginia, U.S., and Ushuaia, Argentina. Another cruise liner, the Antarctic Dream, is said to be on its way to the scene.
Four Argentine vessels are also heading to aid the stricken vessel.
Source:Xinhua
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