Breaking Headline

Qatar: One dead, 29 missing as ship sinks

Published July 1st, 2009 - 07:12 GMT

A commercial services vessel carrying 35 people of various nationalities sunk on Tuesday morning off the coast of the Qatari capital Doha, Qatar's official news agency (QNA) reported late on Tuesday. Five people were rescued, one passenger's body was found, but the remaining 29 passengers were missing, the Ministry of Interior told QNA. “The tragedy occurred at 6.30am when the ship was carrying out its normal mission at the entrance of the Doha canal”, the Interior Ministry official said.

 

Among the rescued were three Indian nationals.

The ship capsized about two miles off Doha's coast, local daily Gulf Times reported on Wednesday. It added the majority of passengers worked for Doha-based HBK Power Cleaning, including 12 Nepalese and 11 Indians. The ship belonged to Dubai-based Demas Marine, and provided support services to the oil industry, the paper said citing an HBK spokesman. A Dubai source identified the ship as Damas Victory, which was built in 1973.