Lorraine Williamson
Spain has begun evacuating passengers from the MV Hondius after the cruise ship reached Tenerife following a deadly hantavirus outbreak.
The hantavirus cruise evacuation began on Sunday morning, with Spanish passengers among the first to leave the vessel. The ship arrived at the port of Granadilla de Abona before dawn and is now at the centre of a controlled operation involving health teams, emergency services and international authorities.
At a glance: what is happening in Tenerife
- The MV Hondius arrived off Tenerife early on Sunday after a hantavirus outbreak.
- Spanish passengers have begun disembarking and are being transferred to Madrid.
- They are due to quarantine at the Gómez Ulla military hospital.
- Passengers from other countries are expected to leave in organised groups.
Spanish passengers leave first
Spain’s Health Ministry said Spanish passengers were the first to disembark from the ship, which anchored near Tenerife on Sunday.
Reuters reported that Spanish nationals were taken ashore in small groups by boat before being transferred by bus to the airport. Other national groups are expected to follow as evacuation flights are arranged by their countries.
RTVE reported that the 14 Spaniards on board — 13 passengers and one crew member — were already flying to Madrid after the disembarkation was completed successfully. They are expected to quarantine at the Gómez Ulla military hospital.
All passengers treated as high-risk contacts
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has said all passengers aboard the MV Hondius are being treated as high-risk contacts as a precaution.
According to Reuters, that status may be reviewed once passengers return to their home countries. Asymptomatic passengers are expected to travel on special transport, not commercial flights.
Symptomatic passengers would be medically assessed and either isolated in Tenerife or evacuated under medical supervision.
Health authorities continue to stress that the wider public risk remains low if protocols are followed.
Operation expected to continue into Monday
The evacuation is being carried out by nationality and may continue into Monday.
RTVE reported that passengers from France and Canada were among those leaving after the Spanish group, while the Netherlands is expected to handle Dutch nationals as well as passengers from several other countries.
The final evacuation flight, for Australian passengers, is expected on Monday.
The Guardian reported that British passengers are also part of the repatriation operation, with quarantine arrangements planned in the UK.
Three deaths linked to outbreak
The MV Hondius outbreak has been linked to three deaths and several confirmed or suspected cases.
Reuters, citing the World Health Organization, reported three fatalities and six confirmed cases, with two further suspected cases. The virus involved has been identified as the Andes strain of hantavirus.
Hantavirus is usually associated with exposure to infected rodents. Some strains, including Andes hantavirus, can spread between people in rare circumstances through close contact.
Why the ship came to Tenerife
Spain agreed to receive the ship as part of an international health operation.
The decision has caused tension in the Canary Islands, where regional authorities and some port workers had asked for clearer information and guarantees before the vessel arrived.
Even so, the central government has insisted the operation is being carried out under strict medical and safety protocols.
The MV Hondius is expected to continue to the Netherlands after the passenger evacuation so it can be disinfected.
The key question now is execution
The immediate question is no longer whether the ship will arrive. It has.
The focus now is whether Spain and the passengers’ home countries can complete the evacuation without delays, confusion or further health concerns.
For Tenerife, the operation is also a test of public confidence. Authorities must show that passengers, port staff, airport workers and residents are all protected while the international evacuation continues.