- The huge replica vessel was torn away from its moorings during a severe storm on Wednesday
- The ark – a replica of the Old Testament vessel – was not badly damaged and its human and animal inhabitants were speedily evacuated
- Urk Mayor Pieter van Maaren said that the incident had caused ‘considerable damage’ to other vessels
A 70-metres-long replica of Noah’s Ark went adrift in 110km/h winds in the Dutch port of Urk on Wednesday, crashing into several boats moored in the harbour and requiring seven people and several animals on board to be rescued.
The ark’s owner told a local radio station in Flevoland that the gale-force winds tore it away from the boulders it was fastened to in Urk, a staunchly protestant town in the province of Flevoland.
‘We had fastened it properly as we’re used to storms. I don’t know how it managed to break loose,’ Aad Peters said.
The replica – described as a Bible-themed floating museum – has been stationed in Urk’s harbour since January 2017
Little harm was was done to the ark and its human and animal inhabitants – although several vessels which collided with it during the storm were damaged
The ark’s owner said he had never encountered so fierce a storm and was powerless to prevent the vessel from breaking away from its moorings
A rescue vessel was quickly on the scene to take humans and animals to safety
Urk Mayor Pieter van Maaren said that the incident had caused ‘considerable damage’ but Mr Peters said the damage to the vessel itself was not that severe because it is made out of steel.
‘But I hope that it isn’t too bad for those small boats,’ he told.
The replica – described as a Bible-themed floating museum – has been stationed in Urk’s harbour since January 2017.
Mr Peters said that he and his team had been ‘on the road for years and have experienced many storms, but this has never happened before’.
Last month a California-based ‘ark hunter’ said that he believed there was new evidence to suggest that Mount Ararat is where the original ark of the Bible came aground.
In the Bible story, God commands Noah to build a vast ship, the ark – capable of saving himself, his family and a representation of the world’s animals.
God was spurred by the wickedness and corruption of man, and vowed to send a great cleansing flood.
Deeming Noah to be the only righteous man worth saving, God commands him to build the vast ship.
When Noah has completed his task, God sent ‘two of every sort’ of animal to the Ark as the flood waters rose until all mountains were covered and all life (except fish) was destroyed.