Cruise ship runs aground off Greece

Hundreds of Americans were among nearly 1,600 people who took to lifeboats or climbed down rope ladders to rescue vessels Thursday after a cruise ship struck a reef in the Aegean Sea and started listing.

Authorities said North Carolina high school students, at least two school groups from Canada and more than 100 Spaniards were aboard the Greek-flagged Sea Diamond when it hit the rocks off the island of Santorini.

“The ship was really far tilted. It was actually kind of freaking us out -- scary,” said Catherine Small, 17, who attends Chapel Hill (N.C.) High School.

More than a dozen ships were involved in the rescue effort, along with six navy rescue helicopters, two military transport planes and four warships. Greek television showed scenes of the passengers climbing down the side of the listing vessel.

Many hugged and wiped tears once they reached Santorini.

“Thank God our feet are touching ground,” passenger Efstathios Fotidis told Greece’s Mega TV. “We heard a loud noise ... a few minutes later the ship started listing.”

The Merchant Marine Ministry said 1,195 passengers and 391 crew members were aboard. Most passengers were from the United States.

Deniece Land in Raleigh, N.C., said she had spoken to her son David, 17, by phone several times during the trip.

“He called ... and he said, ‘This ship is taking on water and we’re going down.’ I said, ‘Don’t play with me.’ He said, ‘I have a life vest on.’ ”

On Santorini, tourists watched the rescue from atop cliffs. Passengers were taken by a small ferry and small boats to the island’s main port.

Authorities said tugboats were used to pull the ship free, helped by moderate prevailing winds. The ship stabilized when watertight doors were activated.

“The ship was evacuated quickly and successfully,” Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis said.

“No one had as much as a nosebleed.”