Residents and port workers in Tenerife, part of Spain’s Canary Islands, have staged a protest against the arrival of the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been linked to a hantavirus outbreak that has reportedly resulted in several fatalities among its passengers.
The demonstration took place on May 8, 2026, near the Canary Islands Parliament in Santa Cruz, where participants expressed concerns about the potential health risks associated with the ship’s arrival. Protesters voiced their belief that local authorities have not adequately addressed safety measures.
Many attendees, equipped with whistles and vuvuzelas, waved flags as they gathered to make their voices heard. Joana Batista, a representative of the port workers’ union, articulated the group’s apprehensions, stating, “We do not like the idea of working in the port without proper safety measures or information when a ship with an infection approaches Tenerife.” She emphasized that while the ship might dock, it should only do so if necessary precautions are implemented.
“Local residents need to be informed about how this will affect them and how passengers will be transported. We need this information above all else,” Batista added.
Some protesters threatened to block the ship’s arrival if their demands were not met. Among the demonstrators was Maria de la Luz Sedeño, a dietitian, who echoed many of the concerns raised by the crowd. She also expressed frustration over the ongoing arrival of illegal migrants from North and West Africa, stating, “This is the last straw regarding everything that residents of the Canary Islands have to endure.”
“The Spanish government has ignored the request from the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, who opposed the arrival of MV Hondius, adding that ‘people here are not being listened to,'” she said.
In response to the protests, the Spanish government has clarified the ship’s docking arrangements. The MV Hondius will not dock directly at Tenerife but will instead anchor offshore. Passengers will be transported to the industrial port of Granadilla, located in the southeastern part of the island, away from residential areas. After disembarking, they will be repatriated to their home countries.
Virginia Barcones, head of Spain’s civil protection agency, assured that there would be no contact between passengers and local residents, stating that both groups would be “absolutely and completely protected.”
Protests in Tenerife against the MV Hondius cruise ship highlight local concerns about health risks following a hantavirus outbreak. Demonstrators demand better safety measures and communication from authorities regarding the ship's arrival.
Source: BBC