Terrifying Accident: Cargo Ship Sinks Tourist Vessel in New Orleans, USA (Video)

The city of New Orleans in the US state of Louisiana witnessed a horrific accident early Saturday morning, resulting in the sinking of a tourist vessel carrying 130 passengers after it was struck by a cargo ship.

Officials at the Port of New Orleans reported a collision between a cargo ship and a river cruise boat that was docked at the port on the Mississippi River, leading to the sinking of the tourist vessel.

According to widely circulated videos filmed by people at the scene, several passengers on the tourist boat were forced to swim in the river waters to save themselves.

Crews from the New Orleans Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, Police Department, and Coast Guard responded to the incident, confirming injuries among passengers of the "American Heritage" - a luxury sternwheel paddleboat measuring 295 feet in length - at the moment of the collision on the Mississippi River.

Helena Moreno, an official in New Orleans, stated during a press conference that a tanker belonging to "Atlantic Asphalt" lost control and collided with the riverboat operated by "American Cruise Lines."

The official clarified that 32 people are receiving treatment in local hospitals, but their injuries are not serious, while simultaneously confirming that all passengers on the tourist vessel have been accounted for and their safety verified.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said: "We are aware of the incident that occurred on the Mississippi River, and we are in close contact with local officials and law enforcement agencies," confirming his rapid departure to New Orleans.