Seven dead, 16 missing as tourist sightseeing boat with 35 people on board crashes into another vessel and sinks on River Danube in Hungary during storm
- Mermaid or Hableany collided with another tourist vessel in Budapest last night
- Crash happened just after 10pm when the boat took on water and sunk
- 33 passengers, all from South Korea, were on board, with two members of crew
At least seven people have died and 16 are missing after the sightseeing boat they were on sunk in the River Danube.
Rescuers were scrambled to the water outside the Hungarian Parliament building in the centre of Budapest after the Mermaid collided with another tourist boat just after 10pm on Wednesday.
A total of 33 passengers, all from South Korea, and two members of crew were on board the vessel when it sunk.
At least seven people have died and 19 are missing after the sightseeing boat they were on sunk in the River Danube in Budapest yesterday evening
Emergency vehicles are picture on the bank of the Danube in central Budapest after a search for survivors was launched
Policemen and fire crews are pictured on the bank of the Danube as rain fell on Wednesday night
The boat started to take on water before it was flipped over and started sinking as heavy storms raged in the Hungarian capital, local media reported.
Other boats docked on the river banks, including large tourist boats, were seen shining their lights onto the river in search of survivors.
The search and rescue efforts continued despite heavy rainfall, which have caused parts of the Danube to flood.
‘Hableany’, which means mermaid in Danish, is described on the boat company’s website as ‘one of the smallest members of the fleet… an excellent venue for cruises and smaller family events.’
It has two decks and capacity for 60 people, or 45 for sightseeing cruises.
Emergency services raced to the scene of the accident, which happened during heavy rain
A rescue boat sits by a jetty on the River Danube waiting to be dispatched to search for survivors
Police and rescue crews peer over the edge of a bridge over the River Danube as their colleagues searched the water for survivors
The incident happened in the water opposite the Hungarian Parliament building (pictured)