A huge private yacht belonging to a Saudi billionaire has sparked a beach pollution alert at the Cannes Film Festival after running aground.

The luxury 108-meter vessel, Nasser al-Rashid's 'the Lady Moura', hit a submerged rocky outcrop near the port in the French resort as it was navigating a short distance offshore Saturday. Its passengers were evacuated.

Authorities briefly closed two hotel-owned beaches hosting some of the VIP parties taking place at the festival and set up water barriers to stop leaking fuel from fouling other areas, AFP reported Sunday.

The yacht itself, an imposing white vessel carrying a helicopter, was pulled off the underwater hazard by a tugboat. Two big holes seen in its hull were hastily patched up. It headed to Gibraltar for full repairs.

Cannes officials said several hundred liters of fuel spilled, but was cleared up over several hours, allowing the 15,000 festival-goers to continue with their cinema dealings on one of the world's most famous coastlines.

Rashid, an advisor to the Saudi royal family and a powerful businessman, reportedly paid more than $200 million for the Lady Moura, named after an ex-wife.

RH/BGH