Tourists Killed in Accident on Danube River

At least seven tourists are dead and another 21 were still missing after a vessel carrying South Korean travelers, tour guides and crew members was struck by another boat and capsized Wednesday night on the Danube River in Budapest.

According to the South China Morning Post, a pleasure boat called The Mermaid was hit by another tourist vessel near the Hungarian parliament building, causing the boat carrying 33 tourists, two guides, a photographer and the ship’s captain to sink.

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Despite the torrential rainstorm that caused the Danube River to flood with strong currents, local rescue teams saved at least seven people following the accident, and officials continued the search throughout the night.

A witness on the scene told reporters the passengers on The Mermaid were not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident. The South Korean tour agency, Very Good Tour, revealed that most of the tourists were traveling with family members.

The group was on a 13-day package tour through eastern Europe and the Balkan states.

The Mermaid was an 89-feet-long double-decker river cruise boat which could hold up to 60 people. It was one of the many types of ships that sail the river daily, including small sightseeing boats and larger river cruise vessels.