The vessel, which was carrying 73 passengers, had collected workers, including a number of Indian and Ukrainian experts, from oil platforms in the Persian Gulf and was bound for Assalouyeh, but sank 15 nautical miles off the port city.
Reportedly, the vessel had been overloaded with passengers and cargo.
Rescue vessels and helicopters were dispatched to the place of the sunken vessel and rescue workers and divers saved 60 passengers, but 13 people were still missing until the Tehran Times press time.
According to the latest reports, bad weather has hampered the search for survivors, but the rescue work is still ongoing.
It is said that people, who are trapped in the wreck of the vessel, may be still alive because they have access to the vessel’s oxygen tank.
AM/PA
END
MNA