Cruise ship-cargo ship collision on the Mississippi River... “All 180 people survived” (comprehensive)

An accident occurred between a cargo ship and a cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, causing the cruise ship to capsize, but all 180 passengers and crew on board were rescued.

CNN and the Associated Press reported that around noon on the 13th (local time), the cargo ship Atlantic Asphalt collided with the side of the American Heritage cruise ship, which was docked with 180 passengers and crew on board.

In this accident, the cruise ship flipped on its side and was submerged in water, and the passengers were rescued while floating in life jackets in the 19 degrees Celsius river.

Police and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene, and nearby workers also helped, and it was confirmed that everyone was rescued without any deaths or missing people.

U.S. President Donald Trump said through TruthSocial, "Unbelievably, there were no deaths as a result of the major crash," and "32 people are being treated at the hospital."

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said it was "the miracle of the Mississippi River" and explained that there were no serious injuries.

The cause of the accident has not yet been confirmed. However, Mayor Moreno explained that the Atlantic Asphalt lost control just before the collision.

Rhonda Akers, who was on board the cruise ship, explained the situation at the time to NBC News, saying, "After the first collision, there was another collision and the boat flipped over. I had to climb over the railing with other people to survive."

Devon Flanagan, who works near the Port of New Orleans, said he witnessed the accident and said, "It was chaos. All kinds of ships, including barges, rushed to help."

The cruise ship American Heritage was wrapping up an eight-day sailing schedule that included stops at several ports on the Mississippi River, and it was reported that the final destination for the cargo ship was New Orleans.