Sea Diamond cruise ship sinking in Greece

Santorini, Greece - The cruise ship Sea Diamond, with 1,600 people aboard, is sinking off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini.

The Greek-flagged Sea Diamond issued a distress signal after running aground and is taking on water, according to local news reports.

Passengers were reported to be boarding lifeboats and abandoning the ship.

More than a dozen ships and five navy rescue helicopters are helping with the evacuation effort.

Many of the 1,200 passengers on board are from Germany and the United States, local news reports said.

There are also up to 400 crew.

"Some passengers have already reached the island and no-one has been hurt," an official at the Santorini coastguard told Reuters.

"The boat was attempting to moor but ran aground in shallow waters," a local boatman told private Antenna television.

"Weather conditions are good, but the ship is taking on water and has listed heavily," he added.

The ship, run by Louis Cruise Lines, left the port of Piraeus on Monday and was due to return on Friday, officials said.