N

Search continues for those lost in last week's boat accident in Budapest

South Korean divers recovered the body of a 60-year-old Asian male from the wreckage of the sightseeing boat and another body was recovered from further down the river.

Two more bodies have been recovered as the search for those lost in last week's tragic boat accident in Budapest continues.

South Korean divers recovered a body – that of a 60-year-old Asian male – from the wreckage of the sightseeing boat and another body was recovered from further down the river.

Of the 35 people on board the Hableány (Mermaid) sightseeing boat, 33 were South Korean tourists and two Hungarian crew. Seven people were rescued immediately after the accident and seven bodies were recovered.

So far, 19 people (17 tourists and the crew) are still listed as missing and the search for their bodies continues, but conditions around the wreck make dives almost impossible: the current is strong, the water is cold and visibility is practically zero.

Besides the Hungarian rescue services and military divers South Korean and Austrian divers are taking part in the search. Hungarian authorities said they plan to lift the boat out of the water, but the only floating crane large enough for the task cannot get there because high Danube levels mean there isn’t enough clearance under the bridges for it to pass.

Photo credit: MTI