3 dead, 8 Missing in Slovenian Boat Accident

At least three people died and eight were missing after two boats capsized on the River Sava in Slovenia on Thursday, police said.

"Three people are dead, another three were taken to the hospital and eight are still missing," police spokesman Drago Menegalija told Reuters.

Slovenian media reported that only one of the three taken to hospital had survived, raising the death toll to at least five.

The two boats, with 14 people aboard, turned over because of strong currents close to the site of the hydropower plant Blanca, still under construction at a point on the Sava some 100 km (60 miles) southeast of the capital Ljubljana.

According to Slovenian media one of the missing was Kristijan Janc, a member of parliament and mayor of the city of Sevnica, who organised the pleasure trip.

Two other boats avoided the disaster by stopping before the site of the power plant. Most people on the boats wore no lifejackets.