A cruise liner carrying 154 people has been evacuated in the Antarctic Ocean south of Argentina.
Four Irish people were among the 100 passengers and 54 crew who were evacuated from the MV Explorercruise ship after it struck an iceberg and began taking on water.
File photo of MV Explorer
The vessel got into difficulties off King George Island near the South Shetland Islands, off the coast of Antarctica, shortly before 6am Irish time.
The Liberian-flagged vessel was travelling out of Ushuaia on Argentina's southern tip on November 11th for a 19-day trip through the Drake Passage.
The passengers and all but two of the crew were evacuated on to liferafts. They were transferred to the cruise ship Endeavourand another vessel, the Nord Norge, to be taken back to the port of Ushuaia.
The captain and a member of the crew were reported to be staying on the vessel and attempting to pump out water.
Everyone is safe and accounted for, a spokeswoman for ship owner, GAP Adventures, said. She added that 13 Americans had been on board, as well as British, Canadians, Australians, Dutch and other nationalities.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed officials were trying to contact relatives of the Irish passengers and crew member. "Our Embassy in Buenos Aires has advised that all are said to be safe and well," a spokeswoman said. "The Department is currently providing consular assistance to one family and the Irish embassy in Buenos Aires is attempting to contact the families of the other citizens."
The Explorermakes two-week cruises around the Antarctic, costing around €6,000 per cabin.