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The fast ferry "Tiger" in the port of Harlingen
Photo: IMAGO/Anton Kappers / IMAGO/ANP
A water taxi crashed into a ferry off the Dutch coast, killing at least two people.
Two other people, including a child, are still missing, the coast guard announced in Harlingen on Friday.
But the emergency services have no hope that the two missing people will be rescued alive.
Initially, the Coast Guard assumed only one missing person, a 12-year-old boy.
Later, the water taxi captain announced that one more person was missing.
Four people were taken to hospital, some seriously injured.
In the morning, at around 7.15 a.m., the water taxi "Stormloper" with eight people on board crashed into the fast ferry "Tiger" off the Wadden Sea island of Terschelling.
The accident happened a few hundred meters off the island in a fairway in shallow water.
The exact cause is still unclear, there was neither storm nor fog.
Witnesses reported on the radio that both ships had been going very fast.
According to information from the Coast Guard, the water taxi was badly damaged and sank.
Sea rescuers were on duty with several boats and were able to rescue six people, including the captain.
Attempts were made to resuscitate two people – but in vain, it said.
They succumbed to their injuries, the Coast Guard said.
The high-speed ferry "Tiger" was on its way to Harlingen on the mainland in the north of the country with around 27 people on board.
Although she was severely damaged by the impact, she was able to continue her journey to Harlingen on her own.
According to the emergency services, all people were able to leave the ferry unharmed.
The water taxi has since been recovered and towed ashore.
Experts are now examining the ships.
The Dutch sea rescue service was quickly on the spot with several boats to rescue people and search for the missing.
The search was called off around 12 p.m.
According to the Coast Guard, the current in the area is so strong that people are quickly driven away.
aeh/dpa