They were supposed to take a plane back to Fiumicino this evening, but they were caught off guard by the war unleashed by the United States and Israel against Iran , which has set the entire Middle East ablaze.
A group of Sardinian tourists are stranded at the port of Dubai on the MSC Euribia cruise ship , reportedly numbering around ten . They are among thousands of Italians in the area: many of them are in Dubai, which has been targeted by Pasdaran raids. Among them are Minister Crosetto and his family, rapper BigMama, and 204 Italian students whose flight, scheduled for Sunday, March 1st, has been postponed to the 3rd . A Sardinian restaurateur also filmed the explosions a stone's throw from the hotel where he is staying.
The attacks not only targeted US bases in the area, but also blasts on the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah, home to villas, resorts, and beaches . The attack reportedly injured four people, caused by the impact of a drone or missile on a building.
The Sardinians were supposed to depart at 9:00 PM local time (7:00 PM Italian time) to reach Doha, the airport from which they boarded for Fiumicino. However, the ship remained in Dubai because departure from Doha to Italy was not guaranteed due to the closure of the airspace . According to information from the tourists themselves, the cruise passengers were notified of the change of plans in the past few hours, and life on board is continuing peacefully. The ship's staff has given ample reassurances that Dubai is considered a safe port .
In the evening, MSC officially announced the itinerary change: "The ship will remain in port in Dubai awaiting further news," because "the port of Doha has been closed," and other nearby ports will be closed as well. This decision was made to "ensure the safety" of guests and crew.
Passengers are allowed to disembark, but are "strongly advised to remain within the cruise terminal area." The priority, MSC explains, is "passenger safety." Further information, passengers were informed, will be provided by the captain on Sunday morning.
(Unioneonline)