Sinking of Hableány facts for kids
Hableány seen in April 2017
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| Date | 29 May 2019 | ||||||
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| Time | 9:05 PM CEST (UTC+2) | ||||||
| Location | Danube, Budapest, Hungary | ||||||
| Coordinates | 47°30′50″N 19°02′42″E / 47.51389°N 19.04500°E | ||||||
| Cause | Collision with another vessel | ||||||
| Deaths | 27 | ||||||
| Missing | 1 (as of 15 October 2019) | ||||||
| Survivors | 7 | ||||||
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The sinking of Hableány was a sad event that happened on May 29, 2019. It took place on the Danube river in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. A smaller sightseeing boat called Hableány (which means "Mermaid" in Hungarian) crashed into a much larger cruise ship named Viking Sigyn.
At the time of the accident, 35 people were on board the Hableány. Most of them, 33 people, were tourists and tour guides from South Korea. The other two people were Hungarian crew members. Sadly, 27 people died, and one person is still missing. Seven people survived the collision.
Contents
What Happened?
The Danube river is a very important waterway in Europe. It flows through many countries, including Hungary. In Budapest, the river is a popular spot for sightseeing boats. These boats take tourists to see famous landmarks like the Hungarian Parliament Building and the Buda Castle.
The Ships Involved
The Hableány was a river cruiser, about 27-metre (89 ft) long. It was designed to carry passengers for short tours on the river. It was much smaller than the Viking Sigyn, which is a large river cruise ship. The Viking Sigyn was about 135-metre (443 ft) long, making it nearly twice as long as the Hableány.
The Accident
The collision happened at night, around 9:05 PM, near the Margaret Bridge in Budapest. The Viking Sigyn was sailing downstream (with the river's current) when it hit the Hableány. Because the Hableány was much smaller, it quickly capsized (turned over) and sank within seconds. The fast current of the Danube river made the situation even more dangerous.
Rescue and Recovery Efforts
Right after the accident, many emergency teams rushed to the scene. Police, firefighters, and medical staff worked together to try and rescue people from the cold river. Other boats on the Danube also helped in the search.
The strong current of the river carried some victims far downstream. Divers worked for many days to search for the missing people and to find the sunken boat. It was a very difficult and dangerous operation because of the river's depth and speed.
About two weeks after the sinking, the Hableány was finally lifted from the riverbed. A large floating crane, called Clark Ádám, was used for this complex task. Lifting the boat helped investigators understand more about how the collision happened.
Why This Event Was Important
The sinking of the Hableány was a major tragedy that received a lot of attention around the world. It highlighted the importance of safety rules on busy waterways, especially where large and small vessels operate close to each other. The event also showed how quickly a disaster can happen on water. It led to discussions about how to prevent similar accidents in the future and how to improve safety for everyone on the river.
Images for kids
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Viking Sigyn, operated by Viking Cruises, seen a day after the collision
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Hungarian minesweeper AM-31 Dunaújváros conducting search operations under the Margaret Bridge
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Floating crane Clark Ádám raising the Hableány
See also
In Spanish: Naufragio del Hableány para niños
