Tenerife, May 11: The first flight carrying Spanish passengers evacuated from the Hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius departed from the Canary Islands to Madrid on Sunday.
Spanish military emergency units facilitated the evacuation, transporting the passengers under the protection of the Spanish Civil Guard directly from Granadilla port to the runway at Tenerife South Airport.
To ensure safety, the military emergency unit deployed specially sanitized buses for the operation, while the Civil Guard assisted with security and coordination throughout the process.
The health department, emergency services, and police forces of the Canary Islands also participated in this joint operation.
The group included 14 Spanish nationals, comprising 13 passengers and one crew member, marking them as the first to disembark from the ship. According to Spanish officials, they were initially taken to the Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base near Madrid, where they will undergo isolation procedures at the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital.
Spain’s Health Minister, Monica Garcia, stated that the entire operation was conducted with “all necessary safety measures.” She also noted that the remaining passengers on the ship are currently asymptomatic. The final repatriation flight is expected to depart on Monday, which will carry Australian nationals back home.
Additionally, the Netherlands plans to send a “sweep flight” on Monday afternoon for passengers whose countries have not yet arranged their return, according to Spanish media reports.
On Saturday, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured the residents of Tenerife that despite the arrival of MV Hondius in the Canary Islands, the public health threat remains low. Cases of Hantavirus transmission had been reported on the ship.
In an open letter to the residents of the Canary Islands, Tedros acknowledged local concerns but emphasized that this is not another COVID-19 situation. He assured that the current risk to public health from Hantavirus is minimal, and WHO experts and medical supplies are already present on the ship.
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