Tenerife is preparing for a highly sensitive and tightly coordinated evacuation operation as authorities move to transfer passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, under maximum health and safety controls. With less than 24 hours remaining, the operation has entered its final phase, drawing national and international attention.
The evacuation, scheduled for Sunday at midday, will take place in daylight to take advantage of favourable sea conditions. The plan involves the controlled transfer of passengers—among them 14 Spanish nationals—who will later be flown to Madrid and placed in quarantine at the Gómez Ulla military hospital.
A multi-level operation under close scrutiny
The scale and complexity of the operation are reflected in the presence of senior officials on the ground. Spain’s Minister of Health, Mónica García, and the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, will oversee the process alongside the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Their presence underlines the international dimension of the crisis and the need for precise coordination.
The operation was triggered after the WHO requested that Spain receive the vessel, following the outbreak of the Andes variant of hantavirus on board. The situation has already resulted in three fatalities, one of whom remains on the ship.
Early arrival and controlled anchoring
Although the ship had originally been expected to arrive at midday on Sunday, updated projections indicate that it will reach the waters off Tenerife earlier, between 4:00 and 6:00 in the morning. At first light, it will anchor within the port of Granadilla, where a command centre will be established to oversee the entire procedure.
Importantly, the vessel will not dock. Instead, authorities have designed a carefully controlled transfer system to minimise any risk of exposure.
A tightly managed evacuation protocol
Passengers will be transported from the ship to shore using small tender boats, before being transferred into specially designated vehicles designed to maintain isolation—often referred to as “bubble” transport. These vehicles will take them directly to Tenerife South Airport, located just ten minutes away, without any contact with the general population.
To ensure the operation runs smoothly, the evacuation aircraft must be fully prepared and positioned at the airport early in the day. The aim is to guarantee an uninterrupted flow from ship to plane, reducing the time spent on land to an absolute minimum.
Once in Madrid, the Spanish passengers will be transferred to the Torrejón de Ardoz air base and subsequently to the Gómez Ulla hospital, where specialised facilities are already in place for monitoring and isolation.
Medical preparedness and monitoring
Health authorities have emphasised the importance of early detection and monitoring, given that there is currently no specific treatment for hantavirus. In line with this, the Spanish Society of Intensive Care, Critical Care and Coronary Care has recommended that any suspected cases be managed in High-Level Isolation and Treatment Units (UATAN), which offer enhanced capabilities compared to standard intensive care units.
Parallel to the evacuation preparations, attention is also focused on a possible related case in Alicante, where a 32-year-old woman has been admitted with mild respiratory symptoms after travelling on the same flight as one of the deceased passengers. She is currently isolated under strict protocols, while authorities await the results of diagnostic tests.
Contact tracing and international follow-up
Health officials have identified two additional contacts from the same flight, both asymptomatic. One is a South African woman who has since returned to her home country after spending time in Barcelona, and the other resides in Catalonia, where she will remain under observation.
Authorities have also clarified that other individuals potentially linked to the voyage, including a passenger from Navarre, were not in close contact with infected cases, helping to limit concerns about further transmission.
Calls for calm amid rising concern
The situation has inevitably raised public concern, particularly in the context of recent global health crises. However, organisations such as the Spanish Medical Association have urged caution and emphasised that the current scenario is not comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts stress the importance of relying on accurate, science-based information and avoiding unnecessary alarm.
At the same time, the Spanish passengers themselves have sought to reassure the public, stating that they do not pose a health risk and expressing unease over some of the reactions to their arrival.
A decisive moment for authorities
With all logistical elements being finalised and multiple agencies involved, the coming hours will be critical. The operation represents not only a complex health intervention but also a test of coordination between regional, national and international bodies.
The overarching objective remains clear: to carry out a swift, controlled and safe evacuation that protects both the passengers and the local population, while preventing any escalation of the public health situation.
