Spain has started evacuating passengers from a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship anchored near Tenerife in the Canary Islands, BBC reported. 

Health Minister Monica Garcia said the operation was "proceeding normally" and that all passengers on board the MS Hondius were still asymptomatic.

With a long camera lens, passengers could be seen wandering around on the deck of the ship, or at the windows, all in white medical face masks, as the first evacuation took place.