A view shows El Arenal beach in Palma de Mallorca following Berlin's lifted quarantine requirement for travelers returning from the Balearic Islands, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Spain March 21, 2021. (File Photo: Reuters)
During a storm in Mallorca, Spain, a cruise liner broke free from its moorings and collided with a freight vessel.
Passengers aboard the Britannia, a P&O Cruises ship headquartered in Southampton, recalled how the ship “floated away like a paper boat” after breaking free. A boardwalk was also washed away in the surf.
According to P&O, a limited number of persons are being treated onboard after suffering minor injuries.
The ship will remain in Palma for a technical evaluation, according to the company.
The pilot had previously informed passengers that “no structural compromise” existed.
Passenger Gavin McCoy said the “unexpected drama” happened while “the local fire service and crew were carrying out an emergency drill”.
He said that at about 11:00 BST “a sudden rain and wind storm ripped us away from our dockside moorings, breaking tethering lines, water hoses, and causing the walkway to fall into the sea”.
The storm is likely to be one of the severe thunderstorms, affecting the Balearic Islands.
