Amsterdam student, 21, missing in Uganda; hippo attack report "speculation"

A university student studying medicine was reported missing over two days ago in Uganda. The 21-year-old reportedly went missing in Murchison Falls National Park while near the bank of the Nile River. Local media speculated she was attacked by either a crocodile or hippopotamus, but the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs called it "speculation," newswire ANP reported. She is believed to be a University of Amsterdam student on an internship in the African nation, but the university refused comment on privacy grounds, the Parool wrote. She was identified by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf as Sophia Koetsier, on a trip with friends Jasmijn, Liselot and Heleen. The friends were to disturbed by the situation to discuss it with media, the newspaper stated. Following her internship, she planned to travel with other students in the country before meeting up with her mother, already in Uganda. Her father was reportedly still in the Netherlands working with the ministry, while workers from the Dutch embassy in Uganda traveled to the national park to assist the family. Authorities in the region deployed search teams and a helicopter to investigate the wildlife-filled national park. "We quickly hope to achieve clarity," a ministry spokesman told AD.