Successful First Day of Hondius Hantavirus Evacuation in Tenerife

Spanish authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) completed the first phase of an evacuation operation on May 10, 2026, for passengers aboard the vessel MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife. The operation was launched following a hantavirus outbreak that began in late April, which has left at least eight people infected and resulted in three deaths.

By 20:30 on May 10, 2026, a total of 94 passengers representing 19 different nationalities had been disembarked. The operation was coordinated between the Spanish government and the WHO to ensure the safe transit of passengers and crew back to their respective home countries.

Spanish Health Minister Mónica García stated during a press conference that the operation proceeded with normality and total security, despite encountering various adversities. She was joined by Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Minister of Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom.

The evacuation began around 06:00 on May 10, 2026, when the MV Hondius arrived from Cape Verde with 147 people on board. Disembarkation officially commenced at approximately 09:45, starting with the 14 Spanish nationals who were moved in staggered groups.

These Spanish passengers were transported by the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) to Tenerife South Airport. From there, a Spanish Air Force Airbus transported them to the Torrejón de Ardoz air base in Madrid, where they were admitted to the Hospital Gómez Ulla for quarantine and PCR testing to detect the virus.

Following the Spanish contingent, passengers from France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom were disembarked. The operation followed a strict protocol requiring that aircraft from each respective country be fully prepared and ready at the airport before passengers were allowed to leave the ship.

During the transit to France, one passenger began exhibiting symptoms compatible with hantavirus, a development confirmed by French Prime Minister Sébastian Lecornu. Minister García addressed the incident, stating that this is something that can be foreseeable at any moment, some of the passengers can have symptoms, and emphasized that health protocols must be followed.

health officials confirmed that two women from Alicante and Barcelona, who had been isolated as contacts of one of the affected individuals, both tested negative via PCR.

The remaining passengers are scheduled for departure on May 11, 2026. The ship is expected to refuel and resupply starting at 07:00 on Monday. Two final flights are planned for the afternoon: one for six passengers bound for Australia at approximately 19:00, and another for 18 passengers returning to the Netherlands.

Once the final passengers have departed, the MV Hondius is scheduled to sail toward the Netherlands.

The logistical success of the operation occurred amid significant political friction between the Spanish central government and the regional government of the Canary Islands. Fernando Clavijo, the President of the Canary Islands, expressed strong opposition to the vessel’s arrival.

On the night of May 9, 2026, Clavijo stated that he did not authorize the MV Hondius to anchor in Tenerife. He demanded that the Spanish government arrange for passengers with delayed flights to be transported via other available aircraft to expedite their departure from the islands.

The conflict centered on jurisdiction, as the port of Granadilla de Abona is classified as a port of general interest, placing it under the authority of the central government rather than the autonomous community. The Spanish ministers later clarified that the Canary Islands government had been invited to participate in the operation but chose not to attend.

Despite the regional disagreement, the operation received high-level international and national praise. Pope Leo XIV expressed his gratitude to the people of the Canary Islands for their hospitality in allowing the arrival of the MV Hondius.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also thanked the residents of the Canary Islands for their solidarity. Speaking at a rally in La Línea de la Concepción on May 10, 2026, Sánchez defended the central government’s management of the crisis, stating that Spain had assumed a leading role in addressing the health emergency.

The operation involved a massive international media presence at the port of Granadilla, with reporters from across the globe monitoring the disembarkation. Because media access to the gangway was restricted, the Guardia Civil used drones to capture images of the first group of Spanish passengers leaving the ship.