Péter Kolozsi, the deputy spokesperson of the Disaster Relief Services told M1's reporter that their colleagues were in a particularly difficult situation not only because the Danube's deposit filling the hull - they had to prepare for working amongst dangerous objects, they were risking damage to their equipment, and the extreme heat took a heavy toll on them as well. "This rescue operation was greatly taxing physically and mentally," he noted.

Judging by the triangular shape, the dent could have been caused by the bow of the Viking Sigyn.

Fotó: Ajpek Orsi / Index

The Sigyn's bow on 30 May 2019. Reports in South Korean media suggest these scratches on the Sigyn were already painted over. M1's reporter in Visegrád where the Sigyn is currently moored has since confirmed that information.

Fotó: Ajpek Orsi / Index

As it's visible on our livestream, the Hableány was successfully placed on the barge and rescuers are working to secure the boat to the deck. 

Press officer of the Hungarian Counter Terrorism Centre Nándor Jasenszky told Index that the wreckage will most likely be taken to Csepel, the island on the Danube on the southern part of Budapest. "After the boat has been salvaged, it is within the competence of the Budapest Metropolitan Police, as it will be examined within a crime scene investigation procedure," Jasenszky added.

He also told us that the Danube deposited sediment in the back of the cabin where tourists were at the time of the accident, therefore it cannot be ruled out that crime scene investigators will find more victims. 

The special divers lifted four victims from the shipwreck throughout the operation, but four people are still missing.

Fotó: Ajpek Orsi / Index

Centimetre by centimetre, rescue workers are slowly lifting the Hableány before they start placing it onto the barge next to the Clark Ádám crane vessel, our colleague reported from the scene. 

This is the last phase of the salvage operation, and by now, the hull seems to be completely above the surface according to M1.

Fotó: Huszti István / Index

The sides have been taken off of the blue barge onto which rescuers plan to place the wreckage of the Hableány. Our colleagues on the scene reported that the water is still being pumped out of the hull. Once that is finished, rescuers can begin the final phase:

Our colleague on the scene reports that police only allow journalists on the sidewalk of Margit bridge that is closer to the scene of the accident, and pedestrians are barred from the quay nearby.

Still, despite the police warning, approximately a thousand people did show up to watch as rescuers lift the Hableány, armed with foldable chairs and binoculars as they follow the news on their smartphones. Binoculars are handed around, information is loudly exchanged, and onlookers do not seem to be bothered by the heat and the sun either.

Fotó: Német Tamás / Index

According to our colleague at the scene, the three divers emerged from the wreckage of the Hableány after approximately 20 minutes, covered in mud. The lower parts of the boat could still be under 1.5 metres of water that is currently being pumped out from the hull.

Fotó: Ajpek Orsi / Index

• The operation to lift the Hableány from the Danube has started almost six hours ago. Special divers have so far lifted the bodies of four victims from the wreckage.
• The rescue - as officials promised on Monday - proceeds in a slow and careful manner. Rescuers had to stop lifting the boat several times in order to attach new cables or to search the cabin for victims. At one point, the wreckage partly slid under one of the barges anchored by the Clark Ádám crane vessel, forcing divers on a longer break.
• The increasing heat and the Danube's still exceedingly strong currents are not helping the operation.
• A rescuer fell overboard from one of the ships at the scene - he was rescued shortly, but with great difficulty due to the strong currents.

The three divers used a ladder to access the lower part of the hull that could still be under 1.5 metres of water.

Fotó: Ajpek Orsi / Index

There was no distress call on any of the maritime radio channels at the time of the accident on 29 May, Zoltán Tolnay, a captain in service on the tragic night, told M1.

The captain told M1 that they did not see the crash as they were passing under the Chain Bridge at the time, the first thing he heard on the radio was a 'man overboard' call. He added that the seven survivors were rescued in a professional manner.

He also said that during the overtake manoeuvre,

Viking Sigyn should have initiated communication with the smaller vessel."

Zoltán Tolnay said that the water transportation community is deeply shocked.

Stabilisation of the Hableány requires a prolonged effort, our colleague reported from the scene. According to our colleague's description, the rescuers started pulling new cables under the bow of the Hableány as soon as the front was lifted from the water. Rescuers working on the barge next to the wreckage have a chance now to take a look inside the cabin through the windows, where special divers, standing by fully equipped, are expected to find more victims.

Fotó: Ajpek Orsi / Index

The rescuers are working in increasing heat, the current temperature in Budapest is 29°C.

Members of the disaster relief services assembled hoses at the scene and have begun pumping water out from the hull of the Hableány. 

In the meantime, the crane continued to lift the boat - the front of the Hableány is already out of the Danube, bearing the heavy scars of the collision on 29 May, when the Sigyn seems to have basically swept over the Hableány's deck.

A rescuer fell into the Danube from a boat taking part in the rescue operation. He was pulled from the water into an inflatable motorboat by three members of the Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK)  with great difficulty due to the still exceedingly strong currents of the Danube.

Fotó: Ajpek Orsi / Index

The reporter of public news channel M1 said that the operation is halted because the Hableány had "slid under" one of the barges and also because there is damage on the back of the hull.

Another hook was lowered from the crane vessel as a cable was tied to the back of the Hableány's hull, rescue workers are definitely preparing to use a fifth lifting attachment. 

Fotó: Ajpek Orsi / Index

The bodies of four victims were recovered from the wreckage of the Hableány by special divers this morning. Our colleague on the spot reported that the bodies are swiftly taken away from the scene for identification by police boats as members of rescue forces salute the victims. There is no official information yet on the identities of the victims discovered today.

Out of respect, we will not be showing live footage or photographs about the recovery of the victims.