An operation to evacuate up to 1,600 people from a stricken cruise ship is under way off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini.
The Greek-flagged Sea Diamond issued a distress signal after running aground and is taking on water, according to local news reports.
Passengers were reported to be boarding lifeboats and abandoning the ship.
More than a dozen ships and five navy rescue helicopters are helping with the evacuation effort.
The ship was about one nautical mile (1.8km) off the coast of the island in the eastern Aegean Sea, reports said.
Many of the 1,200 passengers on board are from Germany and the United States, local news reports said.
There are also up to 400 crew.
Weather good
"Some passengers have already reached the island and no-one has been hurt," an official at the Santorini coastguard told Reuters.
Louis Cruise Lines, which runs the ship, said a "controlled evacuation" was under way but that there was no danger to passengers.
"The boat was attempting to moor but ran aground in shallow waters," a local boatman told private Antenna television.
"Weather conditions are good, but the ship is taking on water and has listed heavily," he added.
The ship left the port of Piraeus on Monday and was due to return on Friday, officials said.
