Regional leader of Spain's Canary Islands rejects hantavirus-hit cruise docking there

Cruise ship MV Hondius docks off Cape Verde port, as passengers were not allowed off the ship, while health authorities investigated suspected cases of hantavirus aboard the vessel, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, May 4, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Stringer

(Corrects paragraph 3 ⁠to reflect Clavijo leads a coalition ⁠with the People's Party (not "belongs to the ‌People's Party")

MADRID, May 6 (Reuters) - The regional government of Spain's Canary Islands is opposed to allowing a ​luxury cruise ship that has ⁠been hit by ⁠an outbreak of the deadly hantavirus to dock ⁠on ‌the archipelago, its leader, Fernando Clavijo, said on Wednesday.

"This decision ⁠is not based on any technical criteria, ​nor ‌is there sufficient information to reassure the ⁠public ​or guarantee their safety," Clavijo told radio station COPE.

He added that he had requested ⁠an urgent meeting with Prime ​Minister Pedro Sanchez to discuss the issue. Clavijo leads a coalition with the conservative People's Party - ⁠the main opposition to Sanchez's Socialists.

Earlier on Wednesday, Spanish state broadcaster TVE reported the cruise ship was set to dock ​at the Canary island ⁠of Tenerife, citing sources from the country's ​health ministry. The ministry ‌did not immediately respond ​to Reuters' requests for comment.

(Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Charlie Devereux)