A German boat carrying American, British and Canadian tourists on the Danube River in Vienna struck a bridge Thursday, injuring at least 19 passengers, authorities said.
The European Viking tour boat, registered in Germany, rammed into a piling on the Reichsbruecke bridge, one of the main spans carrying traffic over the Danube in central Vienna, the Austria Press Agency reported.
It was unclear how many people were on board, but authorities said most of the passengers were Americans, Britons and Canadians.
The collision heavily damaged the boat's restaurant deck, which was packed with tourists enjoying the sunny day. Thursday was Corpus Christi, a Roman Catholic and national holiday in Austria.
Initial reports said 20 passengers were seriously injured, but police Col. Robert Haas later said there were 19 hurt and that their injuries were minor, mainly scratches and bruises. One was a cook who suffered light burns, Haas said.
The bridge, a popular landmark in Vienna often photographed for the dozens of ornate lamps that light it at night, was not damaged, officials said.
The Vienna navigation authority said the boat rammed the bridge at about 8 a.m. as it was beginning to turn around.
The boat had begun its journey in the Danube town of Duernstein, about 50 miles west of Vienna, and was preparing to swing around for the cruise back when it struck the bridge, Haas said.
Dozens of tour boats ply the Danube daily, carrying thousands of tourists through the Austrian capital.