New Caledonian rescue services carried out a series of four medical evacuations from Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas within a 24-hour period, an unusual and nearly unprecedented sequence of events.

The first emergency unfolded on Wednesday, March 5, when the New Caledonia Operational Surveillance and Rescue Center (COSS-NC) was alerted to a sick passenger aboard the 5,400-passenger cruise ship, which was sailing between Vanuatu and Brisbane. A teleconsultation with medical teams determined that the passenger required hospital treatment. The ship diverted to Nouméa, where two Australian passengers were evacuated just after midnight.

As the Quantum of the Seas resumed its journey, a third medical emergency arose on Thursday morning, requiring the evacuation of a New Zealand national. Shortly after, a fourth passenger, also from New Zealand, fell ill and was also transported to shore.

None of the cases appeared to be related, but the series of evacuations mirrored a similar situation in mid-February when three Australians were also medically evacuated from the ship.

The Quantum of the Seas was on a 7-night South Pacific cruise, which departed Brisbane on February 28 and was scheduled to return on March 7.