Massive rescue effort underway after tanker crashes into New Orleans riverboat with 129 passengers on board

More than a dozen people were reportedly taken to local hospitals Friday, WDSU reports, after an Atlantic Asphalt tanker collided with a river cruise ship carrying 129 passengers and crew members in New Orleans. The collision sent the cruise vessel onto its side in the Mississippi River.

Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser told WWL Louisiana around 3:50 p.m. EST that initial estimates indicated 85 people had been rescued and treated inside the Port of New Orleans building, where the cruise ship was docked. Although officials had not confirmed it, he said authorities believed everyone aboard, potentially as many as 130 people, had been accounted for.

"The latest text I got, it doesn't appear there's been any loss of life," Nungesser told the station.

The collision involving American Cruise Lines' American Heritage happened around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday.

City officials were expected to hold a news conference at 4:30 p.m. EST. Meanwhile, the Regional Transit Authority ferry service across the Mississippi River was temporarily suspended as a precaution following the crash.

The cruise ship arrived at the dock about two hours earlier and was preparing to disembark passengers when the collision occurred. There were 129 passengers aboard, in addition to crew members, according to the Port of New Orleans, WVUE reports.

Video from the scene showed the much larger tanker striking the paddlewheel cruise ship while it appeared to be docked. As the vessel began listing and sinking further into the Mississippi River, people wearing life jackets could be seen in the water or gathered along the ship's railing.

Multiple people had been rescued by around 2:10 p.m. local time, according to the New Orleans mayor's communications team.

Passengers were being brought into the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, where they could receive assistance, port officials said.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he was aware of the incident and was heading to New Orleans as of 2 p.m.

The collision occurred along a busy stretch of the riverfront near the city's Convention Center, between the Central Business District and Warehouse District. The area is popular with tourists and is surrounded by hotels, restaurants and shopping destinations. Nearby attractions include a shopping mall, a riverfront park and the Audubon Aquarium.

The incident could mark the most serious accident along that stretch of the Mississippi River since 1996, when a cargo ship collided with the Riverwalk Marketplace shopping mall, injuring 66 people.

This is a developing story.