Harvey cancels flights, diverts cruise ships

Thousands of flights were grounded and several cruise ships diverted as Tropical Storm Harvey lashed the southern Texas coast over the weekend.

According to reports, passengers aboard three Carnival ships were temporarily stuck on board after the ships were unable to dock in Galveston; two of the ships were then diverted to New Orleans and the third remained in Cozumel, Carnival said.

Between Friday and Sunday, Texas airports saw approximately 5,000 flights grounded, with the majority of those taking place at Houston’s two international airports which remain closed today; according to USA Today, airlines cancelled nearly 1,800 flights on Sunday, following 1,100 cancellations on Saturday and hundreds more in the days leading up to the weekend. Both Air Canada and WestJet cancelled service to Houston from Calgary on Friday; both airlines continue to monitor the situation.

At least five people have been killed in what’s being considered the strongest storm to hit the U.S. in 13 years, and the worst to hit Texas since 1961. Neighbourhoods across Houston have been left flooded with thousands of residents ordered to evacuate.