Iraqi ship sinks after sea collision, leaving four people dead, nine missing

BAGHDAD, Aug 19 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced Saturday that an Iraqi ship has gone under in the territorial water after a tragic accident with a ship raising the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Republic.
The Iraqi ship Al-Mesbar, with 21 people on board, sank completely after the incident, the ministry said a press statement, adding that rescue teams rushed to the scene and managed to rescue eight people alive and exhume four dead bodies. Search is going on for the remaining nine people, it said.
It said the incident is the first to occur in the Iraqi territorial water. (end) ahh.ibi