Three dead, 16 missing as Hungarian river boat capsizes on Danube

[webfact]

Three dead, 16 missing as Hungarian river boat capsizes on Danube

By Marton Dunai

 

A rescue boat is seen on the Danube rver after tourist boat capsized in Budapest, Hungary, May 29, 2019. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

 

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - At least three people died and sixteen were missing after a tourist boat capsized on the Danube in the Hungarian capital on Wednesday with dozens of people aboard, and a rescue effort was underway, state news agency MTI and other media reported.

 

The boat was reportedly hit by another tourist vessel near the Hungarian parliament building, then turned over on the river, which has been flooding, with very strong currents, while a rainstorm enveloped Budapest.

 

News web site Index.hu cited the boat's owner as saying the boat - the Mermaid - had sunk. Reuters could not immediately verify the information about the victims.

 

MTI said the boat carried 34 people - mostly Asian tourists plus crew. State television said there were 32 tourists and two crew on board.

 

A police spokeswoman and the disaster units spokesman could not immediately comment.

 

Rescue efforts were under way, with dozens of vehicles visible several hundred metres downstream from the site of the accident, which happened shortly before 10 p.m. (2000 GMT).

 

Eighteen people were accounted for, with three dead and sixteen missing, state media reported, citing authorities.

 

At least one tourist had to be revived, and several people needed treatment, the National Ambulance Service told state news agency MTI.

 

Television footage showed the bank of the Danube closed off by police on the Pest side, across from the World Heritage site of Buda Castle.

 

Police ordered all shipping to stop on the Danube in central Budapest, it said in a statement.

 

The Danube's flooding and currents made rescue efforts extremely difficult, a rescue diver told the state broadcaster, adding that the waters of the Danube were only about 10-12 degrees Celsius (50 to 54 Fahrenheit).

 

The boat was a 27-metre (89-foot) double-decker which can hold 60 people and was equipped with a 150-horsepower engine, its owner, Panorama Deck Ltd., told MTI in a statement.

 

"We are mobilising every resource we have to protect human lives," they added.

 

The Mermaid had been in their fleet since 2003 and received regular maintenance, they said.

 

(Reporting by Marton Dunai and Krisztina Than; Editing by James Dalgleish)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-30

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

 

 

UPDATE: 

 

Seven dead in Hungary boat capsize as death toll rises - state TV

 

Police and fire brigade vehicles are seen on the Danube bank after tourist boat capsized on the river in Budapest, Hungary, May 29, 2019. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

 

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - At least seven people died when a tourist boat with South Korean tourists on board capsized on the Danube river in Budapest late on Wednesday and several people have been taken to hospital, police and ambulance told state television.

 

TV said that 14 people had been lifted from the river so far, seven of them dead. Correcting earlier reports, it said there were 33 tourists on board and two crew.

 

The Danube is flooding, with strong currents, and there is heavy rain in Budapest which makes rescue efforts difficult.

 

(Reporting by Marton Dunai; Editing by James Dalgleish)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-30

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Burma Bill]

Sadly, this reminded me of a similar accident in 1989 on the River Thames in London (UK) when the pleasure boat "Marchioness" was hit by the dredger "Bowbelle".  51 people died of the 130 on board.

[gk10002000]

Wow,  My cube mate at work and her husband just started a two week holiday in Europe beginning in Portugal on Monday, and then heading to Hungary and cruise or cruises on the Danube.  He is caucasian but she is Japanese.  The article says mostly asians on board so probably not him and his wife I hope. 

Edited May 30, 2019 by gk10002000

[jollyhangmon]

4 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Wow,  My cube mate at work and her husband just started a two week holiday in Europe beginning in Portugal on Monday, and then heading to Hungary and cruise or cruises on the Danube.  He is caucasian but she is Japanese.  The article says mostly asians on board so probably not him and his wife I hope. 

 

According to local media 33 Southkoreans plus 2 crew.

21 still missing, including the crew - not much of a chance, well over 12 hours, water has 15 degrees at best ... 

 

Edited May 30, 2019 by jollyhangmon

[stevenl]

What I read is that in bad weather the tourist boat crossed into the path of a much, much bigger cruiseship, both going in the same direction. Apparently the cruiseship sunk in 7 seconds.

No chance for the missing anymore.

[Burma Bill]

No radar in the wheel house??