Iraq's mighty Tigris river is slowly dying. With drought looming over the region and pollutants contaminating the waters of the river, the second largest river in West Asia is facing a major threat.

WION Climate Tracker | Human activity, climate change chokes Tigris river in Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi made a formal request to parliament on Saturday to fire the governor of Niniveh province where <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/almost-100-dead-as-overloaded-ferry-sinks-in-iraqs-tigris-river-204757">100 people were killed in a ferry capsize</a>.

Most of those killed in Thursday's sinking on the Tigris River were women and children headed out of Iraq's second city Mosul for a Mother's Day picnic on the Kurds' Nowruz New Year holiday.

In a letter to the speaker of parliament, Abdel Mahdi said there was clear evidence of "negligence and concrete failings" that merited a vote on dismissing governor Nawfel Akoub.

"An ongoing investigation has found evidence of the misuse of public funds and the fraudulent abuse of his office," the prime minister alleged.

Akoub has already been subjected to the anger of victims' relatives and their supporters over alleged corruption and cronyism.

When he visited the scene of the tragedy on Friday stones were thrown at his convoy by protesters demonstrating against perceived corruption and neglect.

There is widespread anger in Mosul at the slow pace of reconstruction since the city's recapture from the Islamic State group in 2017 by Iraqi troops backed by a US-led coalition.

The city still bears the scars of three years of iron-fisted rule by the jihadists who made it their "caliphate's" de facto capital.

Survivors of Thursday's disaster were treated in hospitals heavily damaged by the months-long military campaign against IS.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi made a formal request to parliament on Saturday to fire the governor of Niniveh province where 100 people were killed in a ferry capsize.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi made a formal request to parliament on Saturday to fire the governor of Niniveh province where 100 people were killed in a ferry capsize. Most of those killed in Thursday's sinking on the Tigris River were women and children headed out of Iraq's second city Mosul for a Mother's Day picnic on the Kurds' Nowruz New Year holiday. In a letter to the speaker of parliament, Abdel Mahdi said there was clear evidence of "negligence and concrete failings" that merited a vote on dismissing governor Nawfel Akoub. "An ongoing investigation has found evidence of the misuse of public funds and the fraudulent abuse of his office," the prime minister alleged. Akoub has already been subjected to the anger of victims' relatives and their supporters over alleged corruption and cronyism. When he visited the scene of the tragedy on Friday stones were thrown at his convoy by protesters demonstrating against perceived corruption and neglect. There is widespread anger in Mosul at the slow pace of reconstruction since the city's recapture from the Islamic State group in 2017 by Iraqi troops backed by a US-led coalition. The city still bears the scars of three years of iron-fisted rule by the jihadists who made it their "caliphate's" de facto capital. Survivors of Thursday's disaster were treated in hospitals heavily damaged by the months-long military campaign against IS.

Iraq PM asks MPs to fire governor over deadly ferry capsize

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The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-theresa-may-welcomes-brexit-delay-204744">UK PM Theresa May welcomes Brexit delay, says Parliament now has clear choice</a>

European leaders and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday on a short delay to Britain's divorce from the European Union in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit. "I think what this decision tonight does is show the clear choice that is available, open to MPs," May noted.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-police-visited-mosque-shooter-before-granting-gun-licence-204754">New Zealand police visited mosque shooter before granting gun licence</a>

New Zealand police revealed Friday that they met with the accused Christchurch mosque shooter at his home in October 2017 before granting him the licence that let him purchase the weapons used in the rampage.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/almost-100-dead-as-overloaded-ferry-sinks-in-iraqs-tigris-river-204757">Iraq: Almost 100 dead as overloaded ferry sinks in Tigris river, PM Mahdi declares national mourning</a>

Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in Iraq's worst accident in years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-crashes-boeing-rolls-out-safety-feature-previously-sold-as-an-option-204750">After crashes, Boeing rolls out safety feature previously sold as an option</a>

Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in October's fatal crash in Indonesia, an industry source told AFP Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra.

US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month.

US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month. UK PM Theresa May welcomes Brexit delay, says Parliament now has clear choice European leaders and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday on a short delay to Britain's divorce from the European Union in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit. "I think what this decision tonight does is show the clear choice that is available, open to MPs," May noted. New Zealand police visited mosque shooter before granting gun licence New Zealand police revealed Friday that they met with the accused Christchurch mosque shooter at his home in October 2017 before granting him the licence that let him purchase the weapons used in the rampage. Iraq: Almost 100 dead as overloaded ferry sinks in Tigris river, PM Mahdi declares national mourning Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in Iraq's worst accident in years. After crashes, Boeing rolls out safety feature previously sold as an option Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in October's fatal crash in Indonesia, an industry source told AFP Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-72-killed-as-overloaded-ferry-sinks-in-iraqs-tigris-river-204740">Iraq's worst accident in years</a>.

There was an outpouring of grief among residents who only this year resumed the annual festivities on the banks of the Tigris after the northern city's recapture from the Islamic State group.

Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi decreed three days of national mourning as he visited the site of the tragedy. He ordered a swift investigation "to determine responsibilities".

The vessel was crammed with men, women and children crossing the Tigris to go to a popular picnic area to celebrate Nowruz, the Kurdish New Year and a holiday across Iraq marking the start of spring.

The accident, which struck as the overloaded vessel turned back, also coincided with Mother's Day in Iraq.

The interior ministry, issuing a fresh toll, said 94 people had died and 55 were rescued, after its spokesman Saad Maan said at least 19 children were among the dead.

The premier said 61 women had died in the accident.

While war and jihadist attacks have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in Iraq in recent years, such accidents are relatively rare.

"It's a disaster, no one expected that," said a young man who had just managed to reach the shore.

"There were a lot of people on the boat, especially women and children," he told AFP.

A Mosul security source said the high water levels and overcrowding on the boat, with well over 100 people on board, had been to blame for the disaster.

"The boat sank because there were too many passengers on board," another security official based in Mosul told AFP.

Bloated river&nbsp;

Iraq's justice ministry said it had ordered the arrest of nine ferry company officials and banned the owners of the vessel and the tourist site from leaving the country.

The authorities had warned people to be cautious after several days of heavy rains led to water being released through the Mosul dam, causing the river level to rise.

Videos shared on social media showed a fast-flowing, bloated river and dozens of people floating in the water or trying to swim around the partly submerged boat.

Search operations stretched far downstream from the site where the boat sank, according to an AFP journalist.

Hundreds of people who had flocked to the forested area for the first days of spring gathered on the river banks as the disaster unfolded.

Ambulances and police vehicles transported the dead and wounded to hospitals in the city of nearly two million people.

Photos of victims, many of them women and children, were posted on the walls of a morgue for families unable to enter because of the large crowd who had gathered to identify their relatives.

One man, scanning over the pictures, stopped abruptly at the image of a woman.&nbsp;

In shock, he gasped: "It's my wife", before collapsing in tears.

IS turned Mosul into their de facto Iraqi capital after the jihadists swept across much of the country's north in 2014.

The city spent three years under the group's iron-fisted rule until it was recaptured by Iraqi troops backed by a US-led coalition in 2017.

Dead children in the water&nbsp;

Nawar, who had been aboard the craft, said it had capsized in mid-stream.

"It was carrying too many passengers, so the water began to rush onboard and the ferry became heavier and overturned," he said. "With my own eyes I saw dead children in the water."

As ambulances shuttled back and forth to the morgue, three young girls and a boy were huddled together in a blanket, in tears, waiting for news of their missing parents.

"All we wanted was to celebrate the New Year and it turned into a catastrophe," &nbsp;a man passing the scene protested.

Iraq's last major boat disaster was in March 2013 when a floating restaurant sank in Baghdad, killing five people.

Several political leaders denounced the lack of safety at dilapidated leisure facilities in a country where the dismal state of public services was one of the triggers for widespread protests last year.

Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in Iraq's worst accident in years.

Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in Iraq's worst accident in years. There was an outpouring of grief among residents who only this year resumed the annual festivities on the banks of the Tigris after the northern city's recapture from the Islamic State group. Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi decreed three days of national mourning as he visited the site of the tragedy. He ordered a swift investigation "to determine responsibilities". The vessel was crammed with men, women and children crossing the Tigris to go to a popular picnic area to celebrate Nowruz, the Kurdish New Year and a holiday across Iraq marking the start of spring. The accident, which struck as the overloaded vessel turned back, also coincided with Mother's Day in Iraq. The interior ministry, issuing a fresh toll, said 94 people had died and 55 were rescued, after its spokesman Saad Maan said at least 19 children were among the dead. The premier said 61 women had died in the accident. While war and jihadist attacks have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in Iraq in recent years, such accidents are relatively rare. "It's a disaster, no one expected that," said a young man who had just managed to reach the shore. "There were a lot of people on the boat, especially women and children," he told AFP. A Mosul security source said the high water levels and overcrowding on the boat, with well over 100 people on board, had been to blame for the disaster. "The boat sank because there were too many passengers on board," another security official based in Mosul told AFP. Bloated river Iraq's justice ministry said it had ordered the arrest of nine ferry company officials and banned the owners of the vessel and the tourist site from leaving the country. The authorities had warned people to be cautious after several days of heavy rains led to water being released through the Mosul dam, causing the river level to rise. Videos shared on social media showed a fast-flowing, bloated river and dozens of people floating in the water or trying to swim around the partly submerged boat. Search operations stretched far downstream from the site where the boat sank, according to an AFP journalist. Hundreds of people who had flocked to the forested area for the first days of spring gathered on the river banks as the disaster unfolded. Ambulances and police vehicles transported the dead and wounded to hospitals in the city of nearly two million people. Photos of victims, many of them women and children, were posted on the walls of a morgue for families unable to enter because of the large crowd who had gathered to identify their relatives. One man, scanning over the pictures, stopped abruptly at the image of a woman. In shock, he gasped: "It's my wife", before collapsing in tears. IS turned Mosul into their de facto Iraqi capital after the jihadists swept across much of the country's north in 2014. The city spent three years under the group's iron-fisted rule until it was recaptured by Iraqi troops backed by a US-led coalition in 2017. Dead children in the water Nawar, who had been aboard the craft, said it had capsized in mid-stream. "It was carrying too many passengers, so the water began to rush onboard and the ferry became heavier and overturned," he said. "With my own eyes I saw dead children in the water." As ambulances shuttled back and forth to the morgue, three young girls and a boy were huddled together in a blanket, in tears, waiting for news of their missing parents. "All we wanted was to celebrate the New Year and it turned into a catastrophe," a man passing the scene protested. Iraq's last major boat disaster was in March 2013 when a floating restaurant sank in Baghdad, killing five people. Several political leaders denounced the lack of safety at dilapidated leisure facilities in a country where the dismal state of public services was one of the triggers for widespread protests last year.

Iraq: Almost 100 dead as overloaded ferry sinks in Tigris river, PM Mahdi declares national mourning

At least 72 people died when an overloaded ferry sank in the Tigris river near Mosul in Iraq, medical sources told Reuters on Thursday.

Most of the casualties on the ferry were women and children who could not swim, said the head of Mosul's Civil Defence Authority Husam Khalil.

A separate source in the Civil Defence Authority said the boat had been loaded with twice its capacity, causing it to capsize.

Mobile phone footage showed the ferry sinking into the muddy water and people shouting for help.

The rescue team was retrieving survivors and had rescued 12 people so far, Khalil said.

Police and medical sources said earlier at least 40 people had drowned. A source in a nearby hospital and another in a morgue said the toll had risen to 72.

The accident took place to the north of the city, near a recreational area popular with families.

At least 72 people died when an overloaded ferry sank in the Tigris river near Mosul in Iraq, medical sources told Reuters on Thursday. Most of the casualties on the ferry were women and children who could not swim, said the head of Mosul's Civil Defence Authority Husam Khalil.

At least 72 people died when an overloaded ferry sank in the Tigris river near Mosul in Iraq, medical sources told Reuters on Thursday. Most of the casualties on the ferry were women and children who could not swim, said the head of Mosul's Civil Defence Authority Husam Khalil. A separate source in the Civil Defence Authority said the boat had been loaded with twice its capacity, causing it to capsize. Mobile phone footage showed the ferry sinking into the muddy water and people shouting for help. The rescue team was retrieving survivors and had rescued 12 people so far, Khalil said. Police and medical sources said earlier at least 40 people had drowned. A source in a nearby hospital and another in a morgue said the toll had risen to 72. The accident took place to the north of the city, near a recreational area popular with families.

At least 72 killed as overloaded ferry sinks in Iraq's Tigris river

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WION Climate Tracker | Human activity, climate change chokes Tigris river in Iraq

Iraq PM asks MPs to fire governor over deadly ferry capsize

News brief: Big stories of the day

Iraq: Almost 100 dead as overloaded ferry sinks in Tigris river, PM Mahdi declares national mourning

At least 72 killed as overloaded ferry sinks in Iraq's Tigris river