When the first rescue boats reached the scene, the majority of the passengers were in the water on the reef, making as far towards the land as they could, but a considerable number were still in the wrecked vessel, chiefly women and children. The ship lay on her port side.
When rescue boats arrived at the scene of the disaster, many passengers had already entered the water near the reef, desperately trying to reach land. However, a significant portion of the passengers were still trapped aboard the damaged vessel, mostly women and children. The ship was lying on its port side.