Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 22 March 2019

River ferry sinks in Tigris near Iraq’s Mosul, killing 83

By FARID ABDULWAHED are looking for their chil-
QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA dren until now,” he added.
Associated Press Khalil said the ferry sank be-
MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — A ferry cause of a technical prob-
overloaded with people lem, and that there weren’t
celebrating the Kurdish many boats in the area to
new year and Mother’s rescue people. He said
Day capsized in the Tigris more than 80 people were
River near the Iraqi city of on the ferry when it sank.
Mosul on Thursday, killing at Others said the number of
least 83 people, including people on the boat was
families, officials said. much higher.
Many of the dead were Saudi Aziz, a 23-year-old
women and children who Kurd, said he was on an-
could be seen struggling to other ferry crossing the
swim against a strong cur- river. He said the stricken
rent, their heads bobbing in ferry was overloaded with
the water opposite restau- around 150 people when it
rants and an amusement capsized. He said it wasn’t
park where people had long before he saw people
been celebrating minutes drowning, their heads bob-
earlier. bing up and “sliding away
The death toll from the ac- People and relatives of victims waiting on the bank of the Tigris river where the ferry sank in Mosul, across the water like plastic
cident, which residents said Iraq, Thursday, March 21, 2019. bags.”
was the worst in recent Associated Press He said he jumped in the
memory, was expected to Abdulrazzaq Falih, a res- the war against the Islam- running high this time of water and managed to
rise as people waited on cuer with the river police of ic State group, which oc- year, fed by snowmelt from save a 20-year-old girl.
the banks of the Tigris for Mosul, said he pulled more cupied the city for three mountains in Turkey. The “I cannot describe the
news of loved ones. than 20 bodies from the years. Iraqi forces drove the river swelled further after a scene, it’s a catastrophe,”
Col. Hussam Khalil, head of water. militants from Mosul in 2017 rainy season that brought he said.
the Civil Defense in Iraq’s “Children, women, and after a grueling campaign more precipitation than in Iraqi Prime Minister Adel
northern Nineveh province, young, what can I tell you? that left entire neighbor- previous years. Abdul-Mahdi ordered an
told The Associated Press It was a difficult situation,” hoods in ruins, and residents Falah al-Taii, director of investigation and, accord-
the accident occurred as he said. are still struggling to rebuild. Nineveh health depart- ing to Iraqi TV, arrived in
scores of people were out A man who identified him- Videos of the ferry disaster ment, said the number of Mosul later Thursday, where
in the tourist area, known self as Abdul-Jabbar al- posted online showed peo- victims that arrived at the he declared three days of
as Ghabat, celebrating Jbouri appealed for the ple struggling against the forensic department and national mourning.
Nowruz, which marks the police to look for his wife strong current. Young men in the hospitals in Mosul is The TV said nine workers
Kurdish new year and the and children. who had been lunching on more than 60, the majority operating the ferry have
arrival of spring. “My wife and three daugh- the banks jumped into the of them women and chil- been detained and an ar-
The boat had been ferry- ters are in the water!” he water with their clothes on dren. rest warrant is out for the
ing people to a small island screamed. to try and save people. “There is a large number of owner of the tourist island
nearby. Mosul was devastated by The usually tame Tigris is fathers and mothers who where it was headed.q

Poland snubs Russia before World War II commemoration

Associated Press anniversary ceremonies Leszek Miller, an ex-Com-
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — will be held “in the com- munist who is now running
Polish authorities have re- pany of countries with for a seat in the European
fused to invite a Russian whom Poland cooperates Parliament, said on Polsat
delegation to a commem- closely now for peace that TV that “it is hard to talk
oration ceremony marking is based on the respect for about World War II without
the 80th anniversary of the international law, for the mentioning the armed ef-
outbreak of World War II. sovereignty of nations and fort of the Soviet Union.”
Krzysztof Szczerski, an aide of their territory.” Russian President Vladimir
to the Polish president, said Russia’s Foreign Ministry Putin, who was then the
Wednesday in comments said in a statement late prime minister, traveled
carried by the Polish news Wednesday that it was “be- to Poland for anniversary
agency PAP that Russia wildered” by the snub, and observances 10 years ago
hasn’t been invited to the accused the Polish govern- and made a speech at the
events in September be- ment of rewriting history to Westerplatte peninsula, in
cause of its aggressive ac- suit its political agenda. Gdansk, where the war be-
tions in Ukraine. “Despite the critical con- gan with Nazi Germany’s
Russia has been slapped tribution of our country to invasion Sept. 1, 1939. Bare-
with various international defeating Hitler’s Germany ly two weeks later, the So-
sanctions for its annexa- In this Monday, Aug. 17, 2015 file photo, Krzysztof Szczerski, the and liberating Poland from viet Red Army also invaded
tion of Ukraine’s Crimea in foreign policy adviser of new Polish President Andrzej Duda Nazi invaders, there is no Poland, carving it up jointly
2014 and ongoing support announces that Duda will make his first trips to Tallin, Estonia and place for Russia there,” the with Germany, an act that
for separatists in eastern to Berlin, during a news conference at the Presidential Palace in statement said. is still seen in Poland as
Ukraine. Szczerski said the Warsaw, Poland. Associated Press Former Prime Minister betrayal.q