A rogue wave caused a cruise ship tragedy. They occur more often than you think.
- The Viking Polaris was hit by a rogue wave in the Drake Passage, treacherous waters between Argentina and Antarctica.
- A rogue wave occurs when it’s more than two times higher than waves around it. Hundreds of them have occurred over the years.
- But there’s a lot to learn about these waves because they’ve only been confirmed by instruments within the last 30 years.
A possible rogue wave sent headlines around the world last week after it broke windows on a cruise ship off the coast of Argentina, killing a woman and injuring four others.
Such freak accidents may seem rare, but hundreds have occurred without warning around the world — on cruise ships, cargo vessels, oil platforms and beaches.