MADRID, May 9 — 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 today.

The European Union is sending two further planes for the remaining European citizens, Fernando Grande-Marlaska added. The US 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. — Reuters