Horrific boat collision close to Budapest, multiple casualties – VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY, UPDATES

A deadly boat collision happened on the Danube near Verőce, leaving at least two casualties. Authorities are still searching for five people, and the police started a criminal investigation into the issue.

Horrific boat collision leaving at least two dead

According to Népszava, a speed boat collided with a cruise ship near Verőce on Saturday evening. The accident took place near the main road Nr. 12. Authorities still cannot find five people, while the death toll rose to two.

Soma Csécsi, the spokesperson of the Budapest police headquarters, told the Hungarian public media that they got word about a bleeding person found near Verőce. Authorities presumed he suffered a boat accident.

Police searched the area with drones and specially-trained staff. They found two bodies: a man South of Verőce and a woman close to the Megyeri bridge, close to Budapest. Authorities towed a speed boat to the shore and halted a cruise ship in Komárom. The hull of the latter vessel was damaged.

Here is how the smaller boat looks:

And here are two photos of the damaged hull of the larger vessel:

Human error?

According to the National Ambulance Service, the injured man suffered head and collarbone injuries with additional wounds and bruises. Therefore, he was carried to the ECU.

Eight adults were in the speed boat. Authorities could not yet find five of them, three men and two women. Disaster management units are searching for them with 12 boats and multiple drones.

The Budapest police headquarters have started a criminal investigation into the issue.

We will update our article as soon as more information emerges.

UPDATE 1: A 110-metre-long Swiss boat took part in the accident?

Blikk wrote that a 110-metre-long Swiss cruise ship was the one that authorities halted near Komárom. It is suspected of having taken part in the accident due to the damages on its hull. Its capacity is 110 passengers and 35 crew members. However, the Hungarian news outlet does not know how many people were on board at the time of the accident, at 11.19 PM Saturday.

Photo: MTI

Authorities are searching a 21-22-kilometre-long Danube section for possible casualties. They said they found the wreck of the speed boat close to the Megyeri bridge this morning. One of the casualties, a woman, was also found near the bridge.

UPDATE 2: Police’s Sunday afternoon statement

Police said on its website on Sunday afternoon that the search was still ongoing for the missing people with the help of 95 search and rescuers and 25 boats. A police helicopter, staff of the Pest County Search and Rescue Service, and volunteers of rescue organisations are also involved. The operation is being coordinated from the Danube river police headquarters in Kopaszi peninsula in southern Budapest. Police has requested members of the public to report any information they might have by calling 112.

Public channel M1 said the cruise ship stopped at Komárom had damage at the front, probably caused by the collision last night. The boat named Heidelberg is 110 metres long, operates with a crew of 35 and has a capacity for 110 guests. Police has been interviewing the tourists travelling on the boat, the channel said.

UPDATE 3

Latest news on the boat collision on the Danube: captain detained, affected hotel ship has left the country – details, VIDEO

UPDATE 4

Boat collision on the Danube: they are still being searched by rescue teams – photos

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