A boat on the Danube river in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, containing tourists submerged within few seconds after colliding with a lager vessel near the Magrit (Margaret) Bridge.
Thirty South Korean tourists and three tour guides, as well two Hungarian crew, were on the tour boat when it collided with another vessel.
Seven South Korean tourists have died and another 21 people are missing.
The incident occurred just after 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
Seven people have been rescued, and a massive search operation is continuing on a river swollen by heavy rainfall.
The rain had led to strong currents on the Danube. Rescue teams say there is little hope of finding more survivors.
A criminal investigation has been launched.
The boat that sank near the parliament building in central Budapest was identified as the Hableany, or Mermaid.
South Korea’s President has ordered a rapid response team to be dispatched to help the rescue effort in Budapest, a presidential spokesperson on Thursday said in Seoul.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will head up a central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters, which will aim to ensure smooth dialogue with the victims, families and the tour boat collision.
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