Showboat Runs Aground on Little Missouri Lake
HarryK wrote:
chicagotribune.com
Weather forces Showboat Branson Belle aground on Table Rock Lake
The Belle and local authorities tell KY3 there's no serious injuries
and only three people requested medical assistance as a precaution.
KY3 News
9:15 PM CST, December 11, 2010
TABLE ROCK LAKE, Mo.
The wind was so strong Saturday night it blew the Showboat Branson
Belle aground during its cruise with guests onboard.
The Belle and local authorities tell KY3 there's no serious injuries
and only three people requested medical assistance as a precaution.
Management tells KY3 as the 4 p.m. cruise was heading back to port,
the Belle had problems with its thrusters. The Belle had to sit
"quiet" on the lake and wait for a tugboat. As the showboat was
waiting, the winds slowly pushed it to shore.
A passenger told KY3 over the phone Saturday night, most of the 567
passengers are calm but some are panicking.
The passenger also says the captain announced it's not safe to
evacuate the boat where they came aground. He said the rocky
shoreline is covered in ice. Fire crews are trying to create a
gameplan but the captain announced guests might be onboard throughout
the night.
The best plan management tells KY3 is to somehow move the showboat
60-feet into a clearing where crews can help the passengers to safety.
Busses are scheduled to pick-up the passengers from Poverty Point on
Table Rock Lake and take them to the nearby Belle's parking lot. A
first responder on scene tells KY3, "it's gonna be a long night."
KY3 Meteorologist Brandon Beck says the Branson Airport had a maximum
gust of 45-miles-per-hour Saturday night.
At this point officials aren't sure if there's any structural damage
to the Belle itself.
KY3 News has a crew at the scene and will have more on Sunday's
newscasts.
- - -
They didn't have an anchor?
Bush's fault.
|