River cruise ship Anna Katharina struck a lock wall on the Danube in Vienna early on Friday, injuring 14 people and damaging the vessel’s bow.

The incident occurred at about 0430 while the ship was passing through the lock at the Freudenau power plant. Around 200 passengers and crew members were on board.

Vienna’s fire department sent ladder trucks to the scene and used a fire ladder to assist several people from the vessel’s deck. Six injured people were taken to hospital for evaluation after reporting back, neck and chest pain.

After everyone on board had been accounted for and received treatment where required, the operator transferred the remaining passengers to another river cruise vessel so they could continue their journey.

The cause of the allision remains under investigation, and a judicial inquiry is under way. Police are considering whether a technical defect may have caused the incident.

Built in 2019, Anna Katharina is 135 m long and has capacity for 180 passengers. The vessel operates on routes across the Rhine, Main and Danube waterway system.