A cruise ship off of Norway’s western coast was evacuating its 1,300 passengers after losing power and issuing a mayday call on Saturday.
Helicopters and boats were helping with the evacuation process that’s expected to continue for many hours, The Associated Press reports.
The Viking Sky, operated by Viking Ocean Cruises, was experiencing engine problems, the Norwegian newspaper VG reports. At the time, the cruise ship was also encountering high seas and strong winds, the newspaper said.
The ship is in Hustadsvika Bay, an area that, as Reuters reports, is known “for its fierce weather” where “shallow waters are dotted with reefs.”
The Norwegian government is studying whether to “build a giant ocean tunnel through a nearby mountain to improve safety” in the bay, according to the news agency.
