Seven dead after boat capsizes in Budapest
(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) – At least seven people have died and 19 are missing after a boat capsized on the Danube river in Hungary’s capital Budapest, state media reported.
Thirty-three people, mostly tourists from South Korea, were on board the boat when it was hit by another vessel while moored, the MTI news agency said.
The Danube river, a popular draw for tourists, had swelled due to heavy rainfall, causing strong currents.
The boat that sank was identified as the “Hableany”, or Mermaid. The vessel has two decks and a capacity of 45 people for sightseeing trips.
South Korea’s foreign ministry confirmed that 19 Koreans were missing, and said the government planned to send a team of officials to Hungary, adding that counselling would be made available to victims’ families.
Speaking at a press conference in the South Korean capital, Seoul, a spokesman for the travel agency behind the group’s tour, Lee Sang-moo, said that at least one child was among the missing.