At least seven people have been reported dead  and 19 others missing after a boat capsized on the Danube River in the Hungarian capital, Budapest.

According to reports by the state media, MTI News Agency, thirty-three people, mostly tourists from South Korea were on board the boat identified as ‘Hableany’ or ‘Mermaid’ when it was hit by another vessel while mooring at about 20:00 GMT on Wednesday.

The vessel, which has two decks and a capacity of 45 people for sightseeing trips capsized on the Danube River, a popular tourist attraction. Its volume had swelled due to heavy rainfall, causing strong currents.

South Korea’s foreign ministry confirmed that 19 Koreans were missing, adding that its government planned to send a team of officials to Hungary to help in counselling the families of the victims.

Speaking at a press conference in the South Korean capital, Seoul, a spokesman for the travel agency behind the group’s tour, Lee Sang-Moo said that at least one child was among those reported missing.

A large rescue effort continued into the early hours of Thursday with boats, divers, spotlights and radar scanning along the river several kilometres downstream. The wreckage of the ‘Mermaid’ was later discovered near the city’s Margaret Bridge.

The rescue teams however warned that as more time passed, the strong currents could carry people further downstream, thereby lessening the chances of finding any survivors.