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• ‘Miracle on the Mississippi’: all accounted for after tanker collides with cruise ship in New Orleans

A video circulating around social media shows a different angle during the moment the ship was falling on its side into the water. Passengers can be seen climbing onto the balconies’ railing to avoid sliding into the river as the ship turned horizontally. Several uniformed people can be seen running away from the scene, likely to gather equipment that would help rescue efforts.

Martin J Davies, a maritime expert at Tulane University, told local news outlet Fox 8 that he suspected the incident was caused by either steerage failure or engine failure.