More than 70 dead as overloaded ferry sinks in Iraq river

Iraqis sail on board a passenger ferry on the Tigris River in central Baghdad, Iraq (Picture: EPA)

At least 71 people, including children, have been killed after an overloaded ferry sank in the Tigris river near the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Colonel Hussam Khalil, head of the Civil Defence in Nineveh province said the accident occurred as scores of people were out in the tourist area celebrating Nowruz, which marks the Kurdish new year and the arrival of spring.

Health Ministry spokesman Seif al-Badr said the dead include 33 women, 12 children and 10 men.

He said 55 people were rescued, adding that search operations are still under way as it is not known how many people were aboard the ferry.

At least 71 people died after an overloaded ferry sank in the Tigris river near the Iraqi city of Mosul. (EPA)

Col Khalil said the ferry sank because of a technical problem, and that there were not many boats in the area to rescue people.

The river's level was high because of a wet season that brought more rain than previous years.