MIAMI - An eight-year-old girl died on a cruise ship in Miami on Saturday (Oct 14) after falling from its interior atrium to a lower deck, said the Miami-Dade Police Department.

According to CNN, the ship Carnival Glory, run by Carnival Cruise Lines, had docked at Port Miami after its journey, when the accident happened at around 8.15am.

Police say the ship has since been turned over to the company to resume normal operations.

The girl, whose name has not been released, was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where she died from her injuries.

Carnival Cruise Lines is cooperating with the police department in investigations to find out details of the incident.

CNN affiliate WFOR reported Miami Fire-Rescue spokesman Captain Ignatius Carroll saying: "We understand that the child may have fallen 20 or so feet from a landing."

Ms Jennifer De La Cruz, vice-president of corporate communications for Carnival Cruise Lines, said the company's "most heartfelt care and concern" was with the girl's family following the tragedy.