Italian Cruise Ship Costa Concordia
Italian Cruise Ship Costa Concordia ran aground off Italian coast and evacuation of the passengers are on. Reuters

At least eight people were killed and more than 15 injured on Friday night as an Italian cruise ship ran aground near the Italian island of Giglio, it has been reported.

Around the 3,200 passengers and 100 crew members are currently being evacuated from the cruise ship, the AFP has reported.

The passengers include pregnant women, children and elderly people.

"The passengers are not in danger, a rescue mission is underway," the AFP has quoted coast guard at the Isola del Giglio port as saying.

"The ship was on a cruise in the Mediterranean, leaving from Savona with planned stops in Civitavecchia, Palermo, Cagliari, Palma, Barcelona and Marseille," the Costa Crociera Company which owns the ship said in statement.

"There were around 1,000 Italian passengers on board, as well as 500 Germans and around 150 French people," it added.

The cruise ship went sailing on Friday night from Civitavecchia port near Rome and the cause of the accident is being ascertained.