It is feared that the new Coast Guard cruiser Thór, which is currently being built in a shipyard in Chile, suffered significant damage when a two-and-a-half meter tidal wave hit the ship after a powerful earthquake shook the region on Saturday.
The tidal wave flooded the dry dock where the ship was kept and swept the trestle from underneath it so it is now lying at a 30 degree angle. It is also thought seawater flooded the ship’s engine room, which could have serious consequences, visir.is reports.
The shipyard itself suffered extensive damage and it could take months before it becomes operational again.
The ship’s construction was in the final stages and it was hoped that it could set sail for Iceland in June, but now it is clear that time schedule won’t work out.
Six workers, Icelanders and Danes, were in Chile on behalf of the Icelandic Coast Guard but will now be sent back home.
It is feared that more than 700 people have died in Chile after the earthquake hit, which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale—among the more powerful earthquakes ever measured, visir.is reports.
President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, has announced emergency measures to deal with the tragedy—search and rescue members are distributing the necessary emergency supplies.
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