Several people missing in Austria after their rafts capsize on Alpine river

Rafters missing after accident in western Austria

VIENNA — An unknown number of people are missing after their rafts capsized Saturday on a river in western Austria, police said.

Dozens of rescue workers were using boats and helicopters to search the Bregenzerach River in Austria’s western province of Vorarlberg for the rafters, fire brigade spokesman Werner Blum told national broadcaster ORF.

The accident occurred near Doren, a village 13 miles (20 kilometers) east of the provincial capital of Bregenz.

At first police said 10 rafters were missing but later said the tour’s organizers had yet to confirm the exact number. The missing were part of a group of about 65 rafters who had started their tour in eight boats around noon.

Police spokesman Egon Voegel told ORF that reportedly 25 rafters had landed in the river after their boats capsized due to turbulence and high water but 15 were immediately rescued.

Five of those pulled from the river have been hospitalized, Blum said. Others were treated for minor injuries.

The nationalities of the rafters were not immediately known.