At least 71 people have died after a ferry sank in the Tigris river in Iraq on Thursday. The majority of the victims were women and children who were unable to swim, according to local officials.
The ferry was reportedly overloaded when it sank near Mosul. Around a dozen people have been rescued so far and over 20 people are missing, but the death toll continues to rise.
Photos and footage from the scene of the disaster show dozens of people in the water surrounding the stricken ferry, with scores of horrified onlookers watching from the shores.
Death toll in Iraq ferry accident rises to 45, a security source tells Sputnik. The second reason of the capsize is the high water level of Tigris river pic.twitter.com/V7E7kYgNPU
— Sputnik Insight (@Sputnik_Insight) March 21, 2019
#الموصل لم يكتب لها الفرح ??
— يوسف القزاني ?️ (@yoo_qz) March 21, 2019
غرق العشرات من الاطفال و النساء بنهر دجلة..
إثر انقلاب عبارة بالنهر..#نينوى pic.twitter.com/C7LEbZqqv5
At least 40 reported dead as ferry carrying them capsizes near #Mosul, #Iraq pic.twitter.com/ywndWHzMHW
— Owais Shah (@owaistshah) March 21, 2019
