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Cruise ship sinking off Argentina Cruise ship sinking off Argentina
(20 minutes later)
Passengers and crew have been rescued off Argentina from a cruise liner, which began sinking after it hit ice.Passengers and crew have been rescued off Argentina from a cruise liner, which began sinking after it hit ice.
The M/S Explorer ran into trouble near King George Island in the Antarctic Ocean, near the South Shetland Islands.The M/S Explorer ran into trouble near King George Island in the Antarctic Ocean, near the South Shetland Islands.
Andy Cattrell, of the Falmouth Coastguard, told the BBC about 100 passengers and 54 crew members have been evacuated and are in lifeboats. Andy Cattrell, of the UK's Falmouth Coastguard, told the BBC about 100 passengers and 54 crew members have been evacuated and are in lifeboats.
The captain and the chief officer remained on board the vessel until everyone was evacuated.The captain and the chief officer remained on board the vessel until everyone was evacuated.
The vessel, which was built in 1969, is owned by Toronto-based Gap Adventures. The liner, which was built in 1969, is owned by Toronto-based Gap Adventures.
Susan Hayes, vice-president of marketing for the tour company, said: "The M/S Explorer hit a lump of ice off King George Island this morning and the impact left the vessel with a crack in the hull the size of a fist. 'Fist-sized crack'
Susan Hayes, vice-president of marketing for the tour company, told the BBC News website: "The M/S Explorer hit a lump of ice off King George Island this morning and the impact left the vessel with a crack in the hull the size of a fist.
"All passengers and crew have been evacuated, they are all accounted for and are safe and well.""All passengers and crew have been evacuated, they are all accounted for and are safe and well."
Mr Cattrell said the weather conditions were "fairly good" for this time of year, but it would be cold. She said the ship was taking on water and that pumps were being used to stop it sinking.
Damaged hull The spokeswoman did not have a passenger list to hand but said most of their customers on the cruise route were typically from Britain, Canada and America.
"You certainly don't want anyone in the water. As they're all in lifeboats they should be fairly secure for the short-term at least," he said. Coastguards said the weather conditions were good for this time of year.
Neil Oliver, of the coast guard station at Falmouth, England, told AP news agency the liner was about to sink.Neil Oliver, of the coast guard station at Falmouth, England, told AP news agency the liner was about to sink.
"They do expect her to go down shortly," he said."They do expect her to go down shortly," he said.
British coastguards are helping to co-ordinate the rescue operation. The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the vessel had a 25-degree list.
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the vessel had a 25 degree list.
The MCA was informed at 0524 GMT on Friday of the incident involving the 2,400-tonne vessel.The MCA was informed at 0524 GMT on Friday of the incident involving the 2,400-tonne vessel.
A rescue operation is being co-ordinated by the US Coastguard in Norfolk, Virginia, with the authorities in Ushuaia, Argentina.A rescue operation is being co-ordinated by the US Coastguard in Norfolk, Virginia, with the authorities in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Another ship called Antarctic Dream, which is in the area, has been diverted to help the rescue.Another ship called Antarctic Dream, which is in the area, has been diverted to help the rescue.
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