Northern Iraq : 85 Dead in ferry accident on the Tigris

In a ferry accident near the Northern Iraqi city of Mosul are at least drowned 85 people. Among the dead were 19 children. 55 Survivors were rescued from the Tigris river, said the Prime Minister of Iraq Adel Abdel Mahdi, on Thursday, the state news Agency INA reported. Among the Victims were many women and children were, according to the Ministry of health. Abdel Mahdi has ordered a three-day mourning period. Images in social media showed people who were swept away in the strong current of the river. Some clung to objects that swam in the water. The cause of the disaster was initially unclear. The ferry was North of Mosul on the road and capsized near a popular holiday island, the second should be to bring the Kurdish new year festival of the passengers. Iraqi media reported that the ship should be overturned because it was overloaded. The members of Parliament Abdel Rahim al-Schamari said that the ferry had been built for 50 people, but had around 200 on Board. Eye-witnesses reported that she was old. Against the owner of the ferry, and another Person arrest warrants were issued.

call for help in social media

Because it had rained in the past few weeks in the Region, the water level of the Tigris is currently high, the rescue work difficult. Mossuls inhabitants were called upon in social media to participate in the rescue of the victims. Also helicopters were in use. The former million city of Mosul had been overrun in the summer of 2014 by the terrorist militia Islamic state (IS). Iraqi troops were able to get rid of 2017, with air support from the international Anti-IS coalition. Large parts of the city, but now destroyed. The old town Mossuls was placed in the fight against the jihadists almost completely in rubble. The billion dollar reconstruction is progressing very slowly. (dpa)