Giant waves strike cruise ship; 2 passengers killed

[Stallion]

From CNN:

Two passengers aboard a cruise ship were killed when 26-foot waves crashed into the vessel Wednesday, officials said. As many as 14 others were injured. The Greek Louis Cruise Lines ship was off the French port of Marseille when it was hit by "abnormal" waves, some more than 26 feet (9 meters) high, cruise line spokesman Michael Maratheftis said.

Five windows in public areas were smashed, and two passengers, a German and an Italian, were killed, he said.

Fourteen others were treated for light injuries, Maratheftis said.

The vessel, the Louis Majesty, was sailing under a Maltese flag and traveling from Barcelona, Spain, to Genoa, Italy, the Greek Public Ministry of the Mercantile Marine said.

The ship had 1,350 passengers and 580 crew on board, the ministry said.

After being struck, the cruise ship turned around and was heading back to port in Barcelona.

Buoy data off the French coast indicated that weather was the likely cause of the high waves. Winds were at 45 mph at that buoy.

 

[Old Salt]

Maybe they were left over tidal waves from that 8.8 earthquake in Chile.

 

[Stallion]

That or the crazy hurricane-like weather they've been having over there. I think that's killed 60+ people now.

 

[rupertlittlebear]

seems like lots of "natural disasters" are happening lately.

 

[skyliner]

End of Ze World?

 

[Stallion]

That's what I was thinking. : Seems like there's an awful lot of bad stuff happening lately.

Video from those on board the ship and more info:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/04/spain.cruise.ship.wave/index.html?hpt=C1