A P&O cruise ship carrying thousands of British holidaymakers has crashed into an oil tanker off the coast of Palma in Mallorca after it snapped its moorings.

The Britannia was blown by gales towards the other vessel on Sunday after a storm battered the island in the Balearics.

P&O said a small number of people sustained minor injuries.

A passenger, who was on the ship with her partner and two children, told WalesOnline: “We have now been told we’re allowed to leave our cabins but we can’t do anything on the ship and all the crew are in their lifejackets and doing all of their emergency things. The side of the boat is battered.

“We were docked overnight in Palma and the wind was so strong our anchors broke and we blew out into another ship.

“We were up browsing on our phones in bed and heard the big horn after the bang. It was panic stations, I was bawling my eyes out.

“We went out on to our balcony and could see debris in the ocean and all the damage to the side of the boat and our lifeboat.

“The captain said: ‘Everyone, this is not a drill.’ Lots of people were running around looking panicked. Then they came around again and said everyone needs to get back to their cabins. We’re still none the wiser. I can’t see how they’ll be able to sail it again after this.”

The P&O cruise Ship Britannia seen moored in Southampton in 2022.
The P&O cruise Ship Britannia seen moored in Southampton in 2022. Photograph: Chris Radburn/Alamy

The £473m ship, which entered service in 2015, is the flagship of the P&O fleet.

A P&O Cruises spokesperson said: “On Sunday 27 August, P&O Cruises Britannia was involved in a weather-related incident while alongside in Palma de Mallorca.

“A small number of individuals sustained minor injuries and are being cared for by the onboard medical centre.

“To allow our technical teams to make an assessment, Britannia will remain alongside in Palma de Mallorca tonight with onboard entertainment and activities scheduled.”

Mallorca had been experiencing winds of 75mph and torrential rains, which caused sun loungers to be blown into the air.

An amber weather alert was in place across the whole of Mallorca and had been extended until midnight on Sunday.

The Tramuntana region and the north and north-east of the island were most likely to be affected, forecasters said.

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