Rahimi Condoles Zanzibar President On Tragic Ferry Accident

Tehran, July 28, IRNA -- Iran's 1st VP Mohammad Reza Rahimi in a message on Saturday expressed his condolences to Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein on the tragic incident of the ferry which sank off the Zanzibar shores, which left some people drowned and others missing. “I express my condolences to Your Excellency and sympathy with the families of those who died in the tragic accident and pray to Almighty God to bestow peace and mercy upon the dead and patience and dignity and happiness for Zanzibar government and people," Rahimi said. Zanzibar police say, at least 38 people drowned in the accident and over 100 are reportedly feared dead and missing after the ferry sank. The vessel, carrying some 290 passengers and crew members, including over 30 children, went down in the choppy waters off Zanzibar after leaving Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam around midday on Wednesday. Officials said emergency workers have rescued 149 people so far and recovered 31 bodies, but there was now little hope of saving more people, said Zanzibar police spokesman Mohamed Mhina./end