Hundreds of people were awaiting rescue from a cruise liner that got into trouble in rough seas off the coast of Norway as reports suggested it narrowly escaped running aground. About 900 passengers and crew were still onboard the Norwegian luxury liner Viking Sky on Sunday. Five helicopters had winched 479 people to safety as huge waves tossed the ship around.

Twenty people were treated for injuries including broken bones, cuts and bruises, rescuers said. According to the Norwegian newspaper Bergens Tidende, the cruise liner was only 100 metres away from striking rocks in shallow waters when it finally managed to anchor and turn.

Social media footage showed chairs, large pot plants and other furniture on the ship rolling across the floor and crashing into walls. Parts of the ceiling were falling down on to passengers as the ship swayed heavily. Passengers were wearing orange life vests as waves broke down doors and windows and cold water poured over their feet.(theguardian)…[+]