New Orleans fire officials have confirmed that they are working to rescue pasengers who were aboard a cruise ship that was struck by a tanker in the Mississippi. 

Passengers were disembarking from the American Cruise Lines ship around 12:30 p.m. when the tanker from Atlantic Asphalt crashed into it, according to NOLA.com.

New Orleans officials believe 129 people were on the American Heritage, a 295-foot luxury paddle wheel ship, when the accident happened on the Mississippi River.

WDSU.com reported that firefighters were pulling passengers from the water when they arrived.

The ship pulled into the dock about two hours before the crash.

The cruise ship turned over and was half submerged in water.

Crews from New Orleans Fire Department, EMS, Police Department and the Coast Guard responded and confirmed injuries.

Earlier in the day, New Orleans Fire and EMS crews took part in a training exercise involving an injured diver at the aquarium near the ship crash location, according to a post made by the fire department on X.