Two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 50 kilometres north of Budapest. The bodies of a man and a woman were later discovered nearby, and a damaged boat was found in the water, leading to a search for five adults believed to have been on board. A river cruise boat was determined to have been in the area at the time of the accident, and a damaged boat was stopped further upriver.
The cruise boat involved in the collision was identified as the Heidelberg, a 109-metre Swiss craft capable of accommodating 110 people. While no passengers on the Heidelberg sustained injuries during the incident, the search for the missing individuals continues. The Danube River at Veroce is a popular recreational and boating destination, situated in an area known as the Danube Bend where the river makes a sharp turn to the south. This region is frequently used by cruise boats traveling between Budapest and Vienna, making it a well-traveled route for river vessels.
This tragic incident comes five years after a deadly boat collision in Budapest in which at least 27 people were killed when a river cruise boat collided with a smaller tourist vessel, sinking it almost immediately. The tourist boat involved, the Hableany, was carrying mostly South Korean tourists when it was struck by the larger cruise boat, the Viking Sigyn, in May 2019. The captain of the Viking Sigyn was found guilty of negligence leading to a fatal mass catastrophe and was sentenced to five years and six months in prison. He has since appealed the decision, and police have now initiated criminal proceedings against an unknown perpetrator in relation to the recent Danube River collision.
The Danube River at Veroce is approximately 460 meters wide and is a popular destination for boating and recreational activities. The area is known for its scenic beauty and is often utilized by cruise boats traveling between Budapest and Vienna. The search for the missing individuals in the recent boat collision continues, with police actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The collision has once again highlighted the dangers that can arise on busy waterways like the Danube, emphasizing the need for caution and adherence to safety regulations when operating vessels in such areas.
With the discovery of two deceased individuals and five people still missing, the aftermath of the boat collision on the Danube River has left a community in mourning and a search operation ongoing. The tragic incident serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with water transport, especially in heavily traveled areas like the Danube Bend. As authorities continue their investigation and work to locate the missing individuals, the impact of the collision reverberates throughout Hungary and beyond, prompting a renewed focus on safety measures and preventative actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As details of the boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary continue to emerge, authorities are faced with the challenging task of piecing together what led to the deadly incident. With criminal proceedings now initiated against an unknown perpetrator, the investigation is likely to provide more clarity on the events that transpired and the factors that contributed to the collision. The safety of water transport remains a key concern in light of this tragedy, underscoring the importance of adherence to regulations and vigilance when navigating busy waterways. The victims of the collision and their families are at the forefront of the community’s thoughts as the search for answers and closure continues in the wake of this devastating event.
