Criminal investigation opened into Danube Delta accident

A criminal investigation has been opened into Monday evening's accident in the Danube Delta, in which four people, including a child, lost their lives. A boat carrying 14 people, most of them tourists, capsized in the Musura Gulf area of the Sulina Branch due to adverse weather conditions. The boat's pilot survived but will be investigated for manslaughter.

Initial reports indicate that the boat was not approved for recreational use. Furthermore, it appears that the boat was over capacity. According to the Tulcea County Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU), only six of the people on board were wearing life jackets and managed to reach shore.

Daniel Nastase, spokesperson for the Tulcea County Emergency Situations Inspectorate, spoke to RRA about the intervention.

Daniel Nastase: The call initially came in at 7:28 p.m. to the Emergency Situations Inspectorate dispatch center, informing us that a naval incident had occurred in the Musura Gulf area, on the Sulina Canal. When the first responders arrived, they identified six victims, six people who were in the water and had managed to reach the shore safely, but they also found four bodies, unfortunately unconscious, four unconscious people, including a child. After further searches, four more people were identified, fortunately alive and out of danger. In this specific case, a criminal investigation has been opened.

In addition to the ISU and naval teams, locals also intervened with their own boats to assist in the search operations.

Translated by: Radu Matei