Up to 40 Drown in Accident in N. Iraq -- Families

[maddezmom]

ZAKHU, Iraq (Reuters) - Up to 40 people were swept away and drowned as they tried to cross a swollen river in the far north of Iraq (news - web sites) Tuesday, families of the victims said.



Dozens of people were packed onto a flat barge, trying to cross a tributary of the Tigris River, when a rush of water overturned the vessel and swept them into the river, near the border with Turkey.


Witnesses said five dead bodies had already been recovered and a search was on for the remaining victims. Four people traveling on the overcrowded barge were saved, they said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041130/wl_nm/iraq_drowning_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480