Tanker ‘lost control’ and hit cruise ship in New Orleans, spurring massive evacuation, officials say

As cruise passengers prepared to make their way off the boat and out into New Orleans, a metallic screech suddenly filled the air. A tanker collided with the river cruise boat, forcing it to slowly tip over as some passengers desperately gripped the railing, while others ended up in the Mississippi River.

While 32 people were sent to the hospital, authorities said everyone is accounted for, and investigators are now left to figure out how exactly this happened in the busy traffic hub.

Emergency responders rushed to help with the mass evacuation as the boat, the American Heritage, started taking on water, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said at a news conference Friday evening.

Those transported to local hospitals all had non-critical injuries and everyone else has been accounted for, she said.

Others were also being treated for “bumps and bruises” in the port facility, she said. Two harbor police officers that had been hospitalized were released Friday evening, the Port of New Orleans said in an update.

A total of 197 people who were on board the American Heritage were accounted for, the Port of New Orleans said.

New Orleans firefighters immediately responded to the collision and used ladders over the dock to try to rescue people, Moreno said. Other ships on the Mississippi River also responded to help get people out of the water, she added.

The Atlantic Asphalt tanker appears to have “lost control,” said US Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham, adding they don’t know the “exact reason why” it may have lost steering capabilities. The person driving the tanker was a river pilot, she said.

After the cruise ship was first hit, passengers “began disembarking,” but “while that was happening, the cruise ship began to sink, and then eventually the cruise ship toppled over and flipped,” Moreno said. “Now, when that occurred, we started to have people in the water.”

Videos from the incident show the moment the tanker crashes into the riverboat, with the distinct sound of metal on metal as the vessels collide. Another video shows at least a dozen people wearing life vests in the water as emergency responders helped them onto another boat.

The Crescent City Connection, a bridge spanning the Mississippi River, was not hit by either vessel, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said.

American Cruise Lines, the owner of the riverboat American Heritage, confirmed their boat was involved in the incident and said they worked with local authorities to evacuate everyone off the vessel. CNN is working to determine who owns the tanker.

The American Heritage paddle-wheeler riverboat was built in 2015 and has a capacity of 150 guests, according to the operator . The cruise line, which offers river cruises across the US, hosts several cruises that port in New Orleans.

Some passengers abandoned personal items on the sinking ship, Moreno said, and are now staying at local hotels. The city is working with partners, including the American Red Cross, to ensure all passengers have access to accommodation, transportation and necessary prescription medications.

The Red Cross told CNN its volunteers are on the scene providing water, blankets and emotional support to those affected.

“We are working alongside first responders and community partners to help identify needs and provide comfort and care during this difficult time. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this incident,” the organization said in a statement.

The governor praised all of the agencies involved, saying their constant partnership prepared them for this type of situation.

“It is a literal miracle on the Mississippi,” Landry said. “When you think about the population that was on that cruise ship, and the ability for us to get them off, get them out of the water.”

“The Mississippi River is not some quiet pond, right? I mean, there were challenges out there,” he added.

President Donald Trump, who offered the state support, also praised first responders, saying in a social media post, “All of Law Enforcement and First Responders were fantastic!”

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin touted that “by the grace of God, we have not lost one soul” during the collision and subsequent rescue.

None of those hospitalized are in critical condition as of the last report, he said during a briefing on the Federal Aviation administration ground stop on Friday.

Following the rescue mission, the US Coast Guard is now working to reopen the river after it was shut down immediately following the collision, Burnham said. The National Transportation Safety Board is launching an investigation, with investigators expected to be on scene Saturday morning, the agency said in a statement, although US Rep. Steve Scalise said the nationwide earlier ground stop may affect their ability to get there.

Landry said there “is an active investigation” into the collision.

“We want to make sure that this investigation is thorough, we understand exactly what happened, so that we can triage those problems and ensure that the Mississippi River remains a very safe place,” he said.

CNN’s Aaron Cooper, Sarah Dewberry, Taylor Galgano, Jason Morris, Jada Furlow and Shawn Nottigham contributed to this report