A “rogue wave” hit a cruise ship Thursday, killing one American woman and injuring four other passengers. The Viking cruise ship was sailing near South America during an Antarctic cruise.
The unidentified 62-year-old woman was hit by broken glass when the wave broke cabin windows on the Viking Polaris ship late Tuesday during a storm, Argentine authorities said. The ship suffered limited damage and arrived in Ushuaia, 1,926 miles south of Buenos Aires, the next day.
“It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident,” Viking said in a statement. “We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies.”
The four passengers injured were treated onboard the ship by a doctor and medical staff for non-life-threatening injuries, the company said.
The company is investigating the incident and says it did sustain “limited damage.”
“We are investigating the facts surrounding this incident and will offer our support to the relevant authorities,” the company said. “Our focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and we are working directly with them to arrange return travel.”
Not many people have heard of rogue waves, much less seen or experienced one. A passenger on the ship, Suzie Gooding, says it felt like they had hit an iceberg. She thought that they might have to abandon the ship.
Rogue waves, also known as “extreme storm waves” by scientists, are greater than twice the size of surrounding waves and often come unexpectedly from directions other than prevailing wind and waves, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Viking is cooperating and working with authorities concerning the incident and has canceled the next departure the ship had scheduled.
Source Fox News
