외교부 "유람선 탑승객 사망자 7명 신원 모두 확인"
We begin with the latest developments on the boat accident that occurred on the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday... that has left at least seven South Koreans dead.
Rescue and search operations are under way...with 21 people still missing, including 19 Koreans.
Our Ko Roon-hee is on the line for us.
Roon-hee, what's the latest?
Hi Daniel.
Let me start off with the latest information from Korea's Foreign Ministry.
It says that the Korean National Police Agency has identified the seven South Koreans who have lost their lives due to the accident.
Members from the Korean National Police Agency will also arrive in Budapest on Saturday... to cooperate with local officials on further investigations.
Korea's emergency rescue team comprised of 27 members arrived in Budapest at 8:40 AM local time.
The team includes people from the Blue House, Korea Coast Guard, the Navy and the National Fire Agency... and they are preparing to join in with rescue and search operations... along with Hungarian police and the counter-terrorism agency.
What can you tell us about the rescue operations that are already under way?
Currently, divers from Hungary's counter-terrorism agency are carrying out rescue operations near the bridge where the boat sank... and there are helicopters and underwater radars at the scene as well.
At the request of Hungary's interior ministry, Austria on Thursday sent ten divers from its special Cobra unit to Budapest to help.
One of the bodies recovered was found nearly 12-kilometers downstream... nearly 2 and a half hours after the collision.
The search area has extended to Serbia, Croatia, and Romania... which all lie downstream of the Danube River.
Earlier on Friday, a press conference was held... with top diplomats of South Korea and Hungary.
Seoul's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto expressed condolences on the tragic incident...and promised to cooperate with further rescue operations.
That's all I have at this hour. Daniel?
