Iraqi Prime Minister Declares 3-Day Mourning Over Deadly Ferry Accident - Statement

Muhammad Irfan Published March 22, 2019 | 01:35 AM

BAGHDAD (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd March, 2019) Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi on Thursday arrived at the site of the deadly ferry incident in Mosul, where he declared three-day mourning, the prime minister's press service said in a statement.

"Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi declares starting from Thursday three-day mourning in Iraq, embassies and diplomatic missions abroad," the statement obtained by Sputnik said.

The prime minister added that the accident left 85 people dead, while 55 more had been rescued.

A tourist ferry with dozens of people aboard capsized in the Tigris River in Mosul earlier on Thursday. According to preliminary data, the accident might have been caused by the excessive number of passengers. The second possible cause for the accident is the increased water level in the Tigris River provoked by the opening of floodgates in the Mosul Dam.