8 Apr 2020

Kiwis stranded on cruise ship in Uruguay to be evacuated

2:49 pm on 8 April 2020

A group of New Zealanders stuck on the Greg Mortimer cruise ship in Uruguay look set to be evacuated on a medical flight to Australia.

More than half of the 217 passengers and crew on board the ship have tested positive for Covid-19.

Aerial view of Australian cruise ship Greg Mortimer off the port of Montevideo on 7 April 7 2020.

Aerial view of Australian cruise ship Greg Mortimer off the port of Montevideo on 7 April 7 2020. Photo: AFP

In a statement, Uruguay's foreign ministry has confirmed it has authorised the landing and departure of a flight charted by the cruise company, Aurora Expeditions, for both Australians and New Zealanders.

Authorities in both Uruguay and Australia have been involved in getting the flight off the ground.

Aurora Expeditions said passengers on the flight would be separated into different cabins, depending on whether they had the virus or not.

The flight was expected to depart Uruguay on 9 April local time for Melbourne.

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