BUDAPEST, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian authorities brought the tourist boat Hableany (Mermaid) that sank on May 29 to the surface, with four victims found trapped inside the wreck, according to official sources here on Tuesday.
"Four victims were trapped inside the wreck and have been removed from the vessel. Among them are the only child of the accident and the Hungarian captain of the boat," Police spokesman Kristof Gal told at a press conference following the hoisting of the wreck.
The salvation operation increased the death toll to 24 people, with four still missing, and only seven survivors.
"Hungarian authorities will double their efforts and effectives in order to find the remaining four bodies," Kristof underlined.
He also told that the wreck would be transported to a port in southern Budapest, where it would be inspected rigorously with the help of experts.
The authorities did not exclude the possibility of finding bodies in the wreck, since some parts of the boat were inaccessible to rescue teams.
The Mermaid sank after a Viking cruise ship collided with it on May 29 as both vessels passed under Margit Bridge in central Budapest. It had a group of 33 South Korean tourist passengers and a crew of two Hungarians aboard.
Hungarian authorities have brought the Mermaid sightseeing boat to the surface on Tuesday under an operation of several hours streamed live by local media.
