Spanish nationals evacuated from hantavirus-hit cruise ship anchored near Tenerife
Emergency response logistics involve small boat transfers and bus transport to local airport following denial of port entry for the Dutch-flagged vessel
Spanish nationals have commenced disembarkation from a cruise ship anchored off the coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands following a suspected outbreak of the Andes virus, commonly known as hantavirus. The evacuation operation, which began early on Sunday, 10 May 2026, marks the first phase of an emergency response coordinated by Spanish authorities and overseen by the World Health Organization.
The Dutch-flagged vessel, identified as the MV Hondius, arrived near the port of Granadilla at approximately 02:30 local time before Spanish officials denied it entry into the harbour due to the infection risk. While three passengers are reported to have died and others remain ill, the group currently being evacuated consists of Spanish nationals who are confirmed to be asymptomatic at the time of departure.
Logistics for the transfer have been established to ensure a controlled movement from the vessel to mainland facilities. Small boats were deployed to transport groups of five passengers to the shore, where they were immediately transferred onto buses for transit to the local airport. This multi-stage process was designed to maintain biosecurity protocols while moving the evacuees away from the immediate vicinity of the ship.
Upon reaching the airport, the passengers boarded a dedicated Spanish military flight bound for Madrid. Government officials emphasised that the strict quarantine measures in place will ensure the evacuees have no contact with the general public during their isolation period in the capital. The military flight was utilised to facilitate a rapid and secure return to Spanish soil.
The situation remains under close scrutiny as the World Health Organization monitors the unfolding emergency. While the specific medical status of the ship's crew remains unconfirmed in current reports, the focus of the immediate response has been on the safe removal of the passenger manifest. Health officials have noted that the full extent of the outbreak severity and the number of affected individuals have not yet been detailed publicly.
Further evacuations are scheduled to follow the established procedure for passengers of other nationalities, though the specific timeline for these subsequent movements has not been specified. Authorities continue to manage the incident with the priority of containing the spread of the virus while adhering to international health guidelines.
