Cruise liner tilted 45° due to bad weather in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean (2 photos + 1 video)
One of the passengers on the ship said the wind suddenly jumped from 46 mph to 86 mph, and people were grabbing onto anything they could to keep their balance, he said. 
Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas cruise ship "tipped 45 degrees" off the coast of Africa due to adverse weather conditions. It happened during a voyage from Barcelona, Spain to Miami, USA, near Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands.
The ship, which features an ice skating rink, miniature golf course, water slides and a climbing wall, reportedly suffered extensive damage in many areas, including the main shopping area.
The ship, which holds more than 5,000 passengers and crew, rocked violently as it sailed. Drinks on bar counters fell off tables, billboards were knocked over and stores looked like they had just been looted. 
One of the passengers on the ship, Jonathan Parrish, said the wind suddenly jumped from 46 mph to 86 mph. He said people were grabbing onto anything they could to keep their balance.
"It went on for about five minutes. Everyone was wondering what was going on. Then the captain came out and explained to us what had happened. It gave us a sense of calm," the witness recalled.
Parrish added that the cruise ship first made a sharp right turn, followed by a more intense maneuver.
One person was injured in the incident. The ship is currently heading to Las Palmas (Canary Islands) to provide medical assistance to the victim.
Later, an official statement was released by a Royal Caribbean spokesperson, who confirmed the incident on the ship, noting that all passengers will be informed about the schedule changes.
Explorer of the Seas is expected to arrive in Miami in two weeks after its stop in Las Palmas.
