UPDATE 1-Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands to send planes for passengers on hantavirus-hit cruise ship

Germany, ‌France, Belgium, Ireland, ​and the Netherlands have confirmed they will send planes to evacuate nationals ‌from their respective countries aboard the Spain-bound cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak, Spain's interior minister said in Madrid ‌on Saturday.

The European Union is sending two further ‌planes for the remaining European citizens, Fernando Grande-Marlaska added. The U.S. and UK have also confirmed planes and contingency plans were being arranged ⁠for ​non-EU citizens ⁠whose countries were unable to send air transport, he said. Passengers will be ⁠allowed to take essential belongings with them but the remaining ​luggage, as well as the body of the deceased ⁠passenger onboard, will remain on the ship and be taken to the ⁠Netherlands ​where it will be disinfected, Garcia said.

Spanish citizens will disembark first, with the order of evacuation ⁠of the remaining groups of citizens to be determined by health ⁠authorities. ⁠Citizens will not be able to disembark until their evacuation plane is ready to depart, ‌Grande-Marlaska added.

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