Tanker collides with cruise ship on Mississippi in New Orleans

More than 30 people were hospitalized but no deaths were reported after a freighter collided with a cruise ship on the Mississippi River in the US on Friday. 

Authorities said at least 180 passengers and crew were rescued. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno described it as "a miracle on the Mississippi," adding that none of those hospitalized had critical injuries. 

Footage showed the paddlewheel cruise boat capsizing following the impact with the much larger cargo vessel and rescue teams rushing to get people in life jackets out of the water. 

'It was just chaos'

The accident happened near the port of New Orleans when the freighter Atlantic Asphalt hit the cruise ship while it was docked. 

"It was just chaos," local witness Devon Flanagan was quoted by news agency AP. 

"You had all types of ships, like other barges and other companies down there trying to help out, which also was a little convoluted because you had people still in the water," he described the scene.

The company operating the passenger ship, American Cruise Lines, said in a statement that "guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved."

According to AP, the cruise ship was built in 2015, is five stories tall and can hold up to 150 passengers. It was finishing an eight-day cruise to several Mississippi River destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi.

When news of the collision broke, it was long initially unclear whether there were any fatalities and how many people were injured or missing.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he was on his way to New Orleans. "We are aware of the incident on the Mississippi and we are in close contact with local officials and law enforcement," he wrote on X.

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin wrote on social media that "we are throwing every asset we have to helping rescue missing passengers" and that his department was coordinating closely with state officials.