BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A U.S. woman was killed and four other passengers injured when a massive wave struck the Viking Polaris cruise ship while it was sailing toward the port of Ushuaia in southern Argentina on an Antarctic cruise, authorities said.
The 62-year-old woman was hit by broken glass when the wave broke cabin windows late Tuesday during a storm, Argentine authorities said. The ship suffered limited damage and arrived in Ushuaia, 1,926 miles south of Buenos Aires, the next day.
“It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident,” Viking said in a statement. “We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies.”
Neither the statement nor the Argentine Naval Prefecture identified the woman or her hometown.
Viking called it a “rogue wave incident” and said the four other passengers’ injuries were non-life threatening.
The cruise ship was anchored near Ushuaia, where a federal court has opened a case to determine what happened.
The company indicated on its website that to explore remote regions of the world they have “two purpose-built, state-of-the-art small expedition-class ships: Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris.”
The Viking Polaris, a vessel that has luxury facilities and was built in 2022, has the capacity for 378 passengers and 256 crew members.