'Rogue wave' leaves one dead, four injured on Antarctica Viking cruise - USA TODAY

One idiosyncratic died and 4 others were injured aft a elephantine "rogue wave" deed an Antarctica-bound cruise ship, question company Viking said.

The "rogue question incident" occurred during a tempest connected Tuesday – erstwhile the Viking Polaris cruise vessel was heading towards Ushuaia, Argentina, the institution said successful an Thursday update. According to AFP, Ushuaia is simply a starting constituent for galore trips to Antarctica.

"It is with large sadness that we confirmed a impermanent passed distant pursuing the incident. We person notified the guest's household and shared our deepest sympathies," Viking's statement read, adding that 4 different passengers were treated for "non-life-threatening injuries" by the ship's onboard doc and aesculapian staff.

The vessel "sustained constricted harm during the incident" Viking said, and arrived successful Ushuaia Wednesday afternoon. AFP reported respective windows were smashed.

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"We wondered if we deed an iceberg. And determination are nary icebergs retired here, but that's however it felt," Suzie Gooding, a rider connected the Viking Polaris, told WRAL News. "Everything was good until the rogue question hit, and it was conscionable sudden. Shocking."

Viking said the company's "focus remains connected the information and wellbeing of our guests and crew" and that they were moving to put instrumentality question for those impacted by the trip. Viking besides made "the hard decision" to cancel the ship’s adjacent scheduled departure connected Dec. 5 for the Antarctic Explorer itinerary.

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According to Viking's website, the Viking Polaris is simply a 665-foot-long cruise vessel that was built successful 2022. Its capacity allows for 378 guests and 256 unit members.

What is simply a 'rogue wave?'

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration, a rogue question is simply a ample and unexpected question that tin beryllium precise dangerous.

Rogue waves, which scientists telephone "extreme tempest waves," are much than doubly the size of surrounding waves, the NOAA says, and often travel from antithetic directions than that of the already-existing waves and wind.

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These waves are precise unpredictable and person an intimidating quality – with astir reports describing rogue waves to look similar steep "walls of water," the NOAA says.

The bureau adds that rogue waves are "extremely rare." Experts are inactive researching however these waves form, but the NOAA notes that determination are respective known causes – including "constructive interference" relating to swells successful the water and focuses connected shifts successful "wave energy."