Ship captain apprehended following deadly mishap at sea
A river cruise ship en route to Passau clashes with a motorboat on the Hungarian Danube at night. One person critically injures and manages to reach safety along the banks, while two victims perish and another five remain unaccounted for. The boat's captain remains unfazed and is only hindered by the police after traveling 90 kilometers.
Following a grievous maritime mishap that saw two fatalities and five untraced, the Hungarian police have apprehended the captain of the Danube's river cruise vessel, suspected of playing a part in this tragic event. Authorities presume the "MS Heidelberg" collided with a motorboat in proximity to Veröce, approximately 50 kilometers upriver from Budapest, in the late hours of Saturday night.
A passenger aboard the motorboat experienced severe injuries and found safety on land. Saturday night also witnessed the retrieval of the bodies of one man and one woman. Despite attempts, authorities are still searching for three men and two women who were present on the motorboat. The rescue teams speculate the chances of finding the missing alive are slim.
The hotel ship, unfazed, continued its journey following the suspected crash. On Sunday, police in Komarom, around 90 kilometers further up the river, detained the vessel. Remarkable damage was visible on the vessel's hull. Law enforcement officials claimed to have addressed the cruise ship's crew members and passengers.
As per media reports, the "MS Heidelberg", which sails under the Swiss flag, was routed from Budapest to Passau at the time. This ship, measuring 110 meters in length, was said to be carrying approximately 110 passengers. The accident on the Danube revived memories of a prior maritime mishap that unfolded in Budapest in May 2019. In that instance, a river cruise ship struck a small excursion vessel, resulting in the tragic losses of two Hungarian crew members and 27 South Korean tourists.
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The international community expressed concern over the shipwreck on the Danube, urging for a thorough investigation into the incident. Despite the tragic events, Hungarian authorities have yet to announce any traffic restrictions along the river's route.
The unfolding shipwreck incident has sparked discussions at the United Nations' International Maritime Organization, urging nations to strengthen safety measures for waterways with high traffic accidents.
Source: www.ntv.de
