It was either this or the pool': hantavirus ship becomes latest Tenerife tourist attraction

"It is the MV Hondius, the small cruise ship at the centre of a giant global commotion. Christened the rat virus boat by the internet after three people travelling onboard died of hantavirus, a disease normally carried by rats and mice, its story has enraptured people all over the world. And now, after reaching the Canary Islands shortly before dawn on Sunday, the ship is finally being evacuated, ending the ordeal for the remaining 149 passengers and crew."

"Some are gazing through binoculars while others are taking photos on their phones of a vessel only a few hundreds metres away, anchored near the Granadillo commercial port. The scene is watched from the hire car of Amy Byres and Emma Armitage from Sheffield, on holiday in Tenerife for Byres's 22nd birthday. We've got some time to kill before our flight later, Armitage said. It was either this or lay by the pool all day, added Byres."

"The pair said they had spent their holiday fascinated by the story of the passengers trapped on board and confined to cabins, in between their whale-watching and quad biking activities. We saw this at the start of our trip we arrived on Monday and we've been following it all week on TikTok, Byres said. We were looking at TikTok trying to find out where it was and then we saw the name of the port and came here. It's just really interesting, isn't it?"

"But down at the dock, the mood is more sober. First, only a handful of Spanish passengers appear, looking dazed and bewildered, wearing face and hair coverings and large blue ponchos over their clothes. Clutched in one hand are small plast"

MV Hondius, a small cruise ship anchored near Granadillo commercial port in southern Tenerife, drew global attention after three passengers died of hantavirus, a disease typically carried by rats and mice. Tourists and locals gathered on a dusty hill overlooking the Atlantic to watch the ship, using binoculars and photographing it on phones. Many visitors came after following the story online, including through TikTok, and stayed for the international rescue operation. At the dock, the mood was subdued as Spanish passengers appeared dazed and bewildered, wearing protective coverings and ponchos. The evacuation began after the ship reached the Canary Islands shortly before dawn on Sunday, ending the ordeal for the remaining 149 passengers and crew.

Read at www.theguardian.com