The Latest on the fatal Danube River boating accident in Hungary’s capital (all times local):
3 p.m.
Hungarian rescue officials say attempts to raise a sunken tour boat from the Danube River floor following the accident that caused at least 19 deaths are unlikely to happen before Tuesday.
A spokesman for the rescue team, Nandor Jasenszky, said Saturday that divers would continue installing harnesses under the boat during the next 48 to 72 hours to prepare it to be raised.
The Hableany (Mermaid) capsized and sank in around seven seconds on May 29 after colliding with a river cruise ship.
Most of the 19 people who died were South Korean tourists, and nine of the 35 people who were onboard the boat are still missing. Seven South Koreans were rescued.
The captain of the Viking Sigyn cruise ship is under arrest, suspected of endangering water transport leading to a deadly mass accident.
Police say that during repeated questioning, the 64-year-old Ukrainian has refused to provide details about the nighttime collision.
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12:20 p.m.
Hungarian police say they have questioned 230 people and 66 witnesses over the deadly Danube River boat collision that killed 18 South Korean tourists.
They also said Saturday that the captain of a cruise ship that collided May 29 with the sightseeing boat carrying the tourists did not reveal details of the incident during questioning.
The tour boat sank within seconds after the collision in downtown Budapest. A Hungarian crewman also died, nine others are still missing and seven South Koreans were rescued.
A huge floating crane arrived Friday to Margit Bridge, where the Hableany (Mermaid) lies some nine meters (29 ½ feet) below the surface, as Hungarian and Korean divers prepared the boat to be raised.
The Danube’s high water levels have hindered recovery efforts.