AKIPRESS.COM - Almost 100 people are reported to have died after a ferry sank in the Tigris river in Iraq's city of Mosul, BBC reports.

Most of the victims were women and children, the interior ministry said. It is thought nearly 200 people were on board.

The ferry was heading towards a tourist island as part of new year celebrations.

Mosul's civil defence agency reportedly said most on board could not swim.

At least 19 children and 61 women were among the 94 people said to have died, and 55 people were rescued.