Using long-range camera lenses, passengers could be seen walking on the ship’s deck or standing at windows, all wearing white medical face masks, as the first evacuation took place.

Several passengers sat socially distanced aboard the first evacuation boat, filming and taking photos as they approached shore, where officials in white protective suits were waiting.

Passengers from the ship are being divided into groups according to nationality before being ferried ashore. They are then transported by bus to the local airport, where charter flights will repatriate them to their home countries.

Footage from the airport showed staff assisting with the operation by placing white hazmat suits over passengers’ clothing and disinfecting them beside the aircraft stairs before boarding.

Fourteen Spanish nationals are expected to be the first to disembark, followed by passengers being flown out by the Netherlands, including Dutch, Greek, and German passengers, as well as part of the crew. Additional evacuation flights are scheduled for destinations including the United Kingdom and the United States. The final evacuation flight is expected to depart for Australia on Monday.

The Hondius arrived at the Port of Granadilla before dawn on Sunday, one month after the first passenger died on board. At sunrise, the vessel could be seen anchored offshore while military police boats patrolled nearby and a large-scale operation unfolded on land to assist more than 100 passengers and crew members in disembarking.

At around 07:00 local time (06:00 GMT), medical teams boarded the ship to check everyone for signs of the virus.  (BBC)