Passengers from the hantavirus-hit expedition cruise ship MV Hondius began disembarking in Tenerife, Spain, as authorities launched a multinational evacuation operation.

Passengers were ferried ashore by small boats before boarding dedicated flights to their home countries, including the United States and the Netherlands.

Eight people fell ill, including three who died, with six confirmed hantavirus cases and two suspected cases, Reuters reported, citing the World Health Organization. Health officials said the risk to the wider public remains low, but passengers are being treated as high-risk contacts and will undergo monitoring or quarantine after returning home.