Tunis massacre: Cruise passenger death toll rises again

Five passengers on board Costa Fascinosa and 12 on board MSC Splendida were killed in the Tunis massacre as they took bus excursions in the city on Wednesday.

Costa had previously said three of its passengers had been killed in the attack but confirmed this morning that five of its guests were among the victims – four Italians and one Russian.

Meanwhile, eight Costa passengers – seven Italians and one Russian – are injured and currently in hospital.

Costa Group CEO Michael Thamm said: “We strongly condemn the attack on democratic Tunisia. Our deepest sympathy and our condolences go to the victims and their families. We share their sorrow.”

MSC Cruises had earlier confirmed that 12 passengers on board its ship Splendida were killed and 13 other guests were injured, of which two are in a serious condition.

The last two missing guests from the ship, a Spanish couple Cristina Rubio Benlloch and Juan Carlos Sanchez Oltra, were found safe after a night in hiding at the Bardo National Museum.

Cristina, who is pregnant, was immediately taken in observation to the hospital and is doing fine.

Gunmen opened fire as passengers from both ships got off their coaches for a visit to the Bardo Museum in the Tunisian capital.

Latest reports say 20 tourists were killed by the gunmen dressed in military uniforms and armed with Kalashnikovs. Dozens more people were injured.

A spokesman for MSC Cruises said the cruise line had immediately put a crisis plan into action, re-calling all excursion groups back to the ship, which had been carrying 3,714 passengers.

Security on board the ship was immediately raised to Level 3, its highest, by emergency protocol and a crisis team arrived in port. Members of the crisis team stayed in Tunis to assist and support those affected.

MSC has cancelled all calls at Tunis until the end of the summer.

Costa said a 15-strong ‘Costa Care Team’ and two Costa headquarters directors are in Tunis to liaise with the local authorities. It has also suspended Tunis calls.

ABTA said as a precaution many tour operators have also decided to cancel excursions to Tunis for at least the next few days (see separate story for operator reaction).

Sami Tounsi, trade manager for the Tunisian National Tourist Office, told TravelMole that agents were reporting that ‘cancellations are not happening massively’ because the UK Government hasn’t banned travel to the country.

“However, this attack might put off people from booking Tunisia in the near future, especially families,” he said.

“The Tunisian Government as we speak is deploying more troops on the borders and urging its citizens to report any individuals behaving suspiciously. Also, the president of Tunisia has declared that there will be no mercy dealing with those terrorists.

“We are pretty sure that the security services will not allow this to happen again. Also, following those appalling attacks Tunisia has become as any democracy a genuine fighter against terrorism. We hope that these events will not defeat tourists from coming to Tunisia in order not to allow these enemies of freedom to win.” 

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said there is a heightened security presence in the centre of the city following the attack.

“You should be especially vigilant at this time and follow the advice of Tunisian security authorities and your tour operator,” it said.