Ferry runs aground near Seattle

The ferry Walla Walla has run aground in Rich Passage near Bainbridge Island west of Seattle (Mike Reicher/The Seattle Times via AP)

A passenger ferry carrying hundreds of people ran aground near Bainbridge Island west of Seattle but there were no reports of injuries or contamination, authorities have said.

The Walla Walla ran aground in Rich Passage at around 4.30pm local time as it was travelling from the city of Bremerton to Seattle, according to Washington State Ferries, a division of the state Department of Transportation.