At least 12 people were killed and many more injured on Wednesday afternoon when a ferry carrying passengers from Manhattan to Staten Island hit the pier in what was described as a horrendous collision.

It was not immediately clear how the collision took place but witnesses said strong gusts of winds sweeping New York might have led to the ferry hitting the heavy wooden pilings along the dock. The impact completely smashed a part of the dock.

Fortunately, the ferry that normally carries about 6,000 passengers had only a couple of hundred on board at the time of the accident at 3.20 pm when most of the regular commuters were still at work.

Witnesses said many passengers panicked and jumped into the water.

Authorities said the injured were taken to St Vincent Hospital and Staten Island University Hospital. Details about the injured are not known.