| A search team uses a sonar to search the Danube River at Margaret Bridge in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday. On Wednesday, a large cruise ship and a sightseeing ship, carrying 33 South Koreans and two Hungarians, collided on the river. Seven South Koreans were rescued and 21 are still missing. AP-Yonhap |
By Park Ji-won
The search for mostly South Korean victims from the sunken sightseeing boat Hableany continued on the Danube River in Hungary, Sunday, as harsh weather conditions that have hampered operations by the local authorities persisted.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian captain of the larger sightseeing vessel that collided with the Hableany, causing it to capsize, was arrested the previous day on charges of negligence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a Hungarian judge issued an arrest warrant for the captain, identified as Yuriy C., whose Viking Sigyn ran into the rear of the smaller boat Wednesday, resulting in its sinking. Of the 33 South Koreans on board the Halbeany, seven have been confirmed dead, seven were rescued, and 19 are still missing, along with the two Hungarian crewmembers.
“The government will continue to request the cooperation of the Hungarian authorities in swiftly ascertaining the cause of the sinking,” said Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho, who presided over an emergency meeting of related ministers in Seoul, Sunday.
The arrest of the captain came three days after he was detained and questioned by Hungarian police right after the sinking of the sightseeing boat.
“The suspicion of negligence is supported by reports from the scene, and photographs and video recordings,” the judge was quoted as saying to AP. The captain faces from two to eight years imprisonment if he is found guilty of negligence resulting in the deaths of others, the media reported. A lawyer representing him claimed his client was innocent and the arrest was made only because he was a Ukrainian citizen.
Following the deadly incident, the government sent an emergency response team to Hungary consisting of officials from several sources including the presidential office, foreign ministry, National Police Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency to liaise with the authorities there. Members of a South Korean emergency rescue team may join in the search efforts with their Hungarian counterparts, the government added.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, returned to Korea, Sunday, after spending three days in Hungary assessing the situation and response to the disaster. She met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Interior Minister Sandor Pinter and requested prompt search and rescue, and salvage operations. In addition, Kang asked them to seek the help of neighboring countries through which the Danube flows. The foreign ministry has also asked for help from Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia.
To assist in the Hungarian efforts, Austria sent a rescue team to Budapest, while Serbia and the Czech Republic have been conducting search operations in the Danube River. The latter tried to use submersible drones in their search Saturday but were foiled by the strength of the river flow.
| The capsized sightseeing boat Halbeany is seen at the bottom of the Danube River near the Margit Bridge in this handout photo of a sonar image taken by the Government Consolidated Rapid Rescue Team in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday. Reuters-Yonhap |
On Saturday, the government released a photo of a sonar image of the sunken boat, taken by a Czech Republic vessel's sonar, which showed the Halbeany settled on the river bottom with a slight list to port.
Foreign Minister Kang said Sunday that it was hard to mount underwater operations, including installing a net to prevent the movement of bodies, because of the strong river currents, adding that the government was closely cooperating with Hungary's neighboring countries.
“We have tried, but diving operations can't be launched due to the river conditions. So now, the search operations are underway using helicopters and boats,” Kang told reporters.
“From the beginning of the disaster, the South Korean and Hungarian governments asked Serbia to help in search operations. In particular, a dam between Serbia and Romania, located downstream, could stop objects there; so workers near the dam are trying to retrieve anything from the ship.”
She added the Hungarian government is considering installing a structure around the boat.
So far, underwater operations have not been successful due to the strong currents. A command team will determine whether to begin them, Monday, as the level of the river is expected to be lower and the speed of the currents, slower.
The government pledged to offer supportive measures for bereaved family members.
“As of yesterday, the families of the dead have identified their bodies. The government will listen to the voices of the bereaved families and help them hold funeral ceremonies. We will also offer support to the survivors,” Vice Foreign Minister Lee added.