Giant wave kills passengers on Mediterranean cruise ship

Two passengers were killed when giant waves smashed windows on their cruise ship.

The Louis Majesty was off Marseille when a German and an Italian were killed, suffering fatal injuries from glass shards and ripped-out window frames and furniture.

A Louis Cruise Lines spokesman said three "abnormally high" waves broke glass windshields in the bow area. Six people were badly hurt by the 30-foot walls of water.

Claude Cremex, 73, a passenger from Marseille, was in his cabin resting because of rough seas when the walls of water hit the ship.

"A lot of water came in. Many cabins were flooded," he said. "Many people were very frightened."

Pierre Languillon, another French passenger, saw many people with injuries.

"They called for doctors, as many doctors as there were. Luckily nothing happened to us, but I think we averted a catastrophe."

Mr Cremex, who was on holiday with his wife, said the damage from the waves was "spectacular".

The ship returned to Barcelona today, from where it had been travelling to Genoa.

Marseille's coastguard said the waves may have been part of a tsunami caused by an earthquake at sea.