Sea Diamond sinks off Santorini

The Sea Diamond, which was evacuated Thursday afternoon after the vessel struck rocks has sank off the Greek holiday island of Santorini on Friday. The Sea Diamond sank shortly before 7 a.m. (0400GMT), 15 hours after the accident occurred and the ship began listing and taking on water. About 1150 passengers and 300 crew had to be rescued.

Authorities said two French passengers — a 45 year-old man and his 16-year-old daughter — had still not been accounted for, and lists of rescued passengers were being rechecked.

No one was injured in Thursday’s dramatic three-hour rescue effort, which involved Greece’s military, commercial ships and the island’s local fishermen.

Passengers on the cruise were mostly American, and also included groups from Canada and Spain.

The 469-foot Sea Diamond was operated by Louis Cruise Lines, part of a Cyprus-based tourism group. Two Cypriots were among the crew.