New Orleans Mayor Gives Miracle Update As Tanker Crash Rescue Wraps Up

Water rescue operations are underway after a tanker struck a docked riverboat carrying more than 100 passengers at the Port of New Orleans on the Mississippi River.

The Port of New Orleans said American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage riverboat was docked at the port when it was struck by the Atlantic Asphalt tanker on Friday at about 12:30 p.m., local time, according to local outlet WGNO. 

Local news outlet WDSU obtained real-time video footage of the collision.

Officials said that 129 passengers were aboard the American Heritage at the time of the collision, along with its crew. Dramatic video from local media shows water rescues underway. 

“Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel are on scene, conducting rescue and response operations,” the port said in a statement obtained by WGNO.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said in an afternoon press conference that there are “zero people unaccounted for” following successful rescues by port authorities. 32 people have been hospitalized, none of them in critical condition.

Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said local and state authorities are investigating the incident, and added that hotel rooms had been secured for all affected passengers and their families.

“This is an active investigation,” Landry said. “So the Coast Guard might not be answer all of the questions at this time.”

The collision, according to one Coast Guard member, might have been a result of a “loss of power steering,” per the New York Post.

A spokeswoman for American Cruise Lines said the company is cooperating with the investigation.

“Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved. We will share more information as it becomes available.”

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